Nigeria Records 174 Lassa Fever Deaths, 361 from Meningitis, Says NCDCO

nyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said that the country has so far recorded 174 and 361 fatalities from Lassa Fever and Cerebral Meningitis, respectively.
The centre said Nigeria recorded 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases, and 174 deaths across 28 states and 129 Local Government Areas, while the highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the “Meningitis Belt” which includes all 19 states in the Northern region, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some southern states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun).
While briefing journalists on the updates regarding the two disease outbreaks, Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the country has continued to see a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases due to improved surveillance, better community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change, and other harmful human activities.
The DG said: “In 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 LGAs. In 2023, 28 states and 114 LGAs reported confirmed cases, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths.
“As of October 13, 2024, 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases, and 174 deaths have been reported across 28 states and 129 LGAs.”
Idris lamented that the disease has contributed to significant loss of livelihood in the communities it ravages.
“Heads of households are unable to work when exposed to Lassa fever and when other household members are infected, the cost of care and treatment of the disease which is often significant strains existing household income pushing households toward poverty in a swift turn of events,” he said.
He explained that Lassa Fever is being spread through direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
According to him, the disease is also spread through contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats; consuming food or water contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
“Person-to-person transmission can also occur through direct contact with blood, urine, faeces, vomitus, and other body fluids of an infected person,” he said.
On the outbreak of cerebral meningitis, Idris said that the highest burden in Nigeria occurs in the “Meningitis Belt” which includes all 19 states in the Northern region, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some southern states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun).
He said that between 2023 and 2024, Nigeria has recorded 4915 suspected and 380 confirmed cases with 361 deaths across 174 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 24 States including the Federal Capital Territory.
He said: “A total of 2, 281, 750 doses of Men5CV- ACWYX in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe covering 134 wards in the 13 LGAs.
“The campaign targeted individuals aged 1-29years, comprising 70% of the population. Despite significant progress in surveillance, diagnostic capacity, and vaccination over the last few years, CSM remains a priority disease and ever-present public health threat in Nigeria with annual outbreaks in high-burden states that present a challenge for people, health systems, economies, and communities.

“While we continue to intensify efforts using an all-of-society approach, the public is advised to note that the virus spreads through”.