Nigeria faces an alarming rise in deadly infectious diseases, with 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 380 of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) recorded so far in 2024, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The outbreaks, which have led to 174 deaths from Lassa fever and 361 from CSM, were disclosed by Dr. Jide Idris, NCDC Director-General, during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
As of October 13, Lassa fever cases have spread across 129 local government areas in 28 states, with 8,569 suspected cases overall.
Dr. Idris highlighted factors driving the increase, including improved surveillance, greater community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change, and human activities.
He added that the disease, spread through rodents like the African rat, leads to devastating impacts on families.
“We have continued to see a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases,” said Dr. Idris.
“The disease also leads to significant loss of livelihood in the communities it affects… pushing families toward poverty in a swift turn of events,” he emphasized, underscoring the far-reaching economic consequences of the virus.
In comparison to the current figures, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states in 2022 and 1,270 cases in 2023, highlighting the persistency of the epidemic.
Turning to the CSM epidemic, Dr. Idris warned that the risk remains high in Nigeria’s “Meningitis Belt,” encompassing the northern states and select southern states.
The ongoing outbreak, worsened by dry season conditions and crowding, has affected 174 local government areas across 24 states, including the Federal Capital Territory. Nearly 5,000 suspected cases have been reported.
Dr. Idris explained, “In the 2023/2024 season, Nigeria recorded 4,915 suspected and 380 confirmed cases, with 361 deaths… CSM remains a priority disease and an ever-present public health threat in Nigeria.”
In response, the government has administered over 2.2 million doses of Men5CV-ACWYX vaccines in high-risk areas, specifically targeting individuals aged 1 to 29 years in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, and Yobe states.
The NCDC Director-General encouraged Nigerians to take protective measures, including vaccinations, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and minimizing overcrowding.
“Healthcare workers are advised to practise standard infection prevention and control measures, maintain a high index of suspicion for CSM, and report all suspected cases,” he added, urging local communities to stay vigilant.
With health systems under significant strain, the NCDC is rallying resources and public awareness to control the outbreak.
The agency’s measures aim to protect communities and mitigate the impact of these diseases on Nigeria’s health, economy, and social stability.