KEY POINTS

• Lassa fever cases surge across 28 Nigerian states and 129 local areas.

• Meningitis cases intensify in high-burden areas across the country.

• Government calls for increased vaccinations to prevent outbreaks.

Nigeria has recorded 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of 8,569 suspected cases, with 174 deaths in 28 states across 129 local government areas as of Oct. 13, 2024.

Nigeria sees rise in Lassa fever cases across 28 states

The country has also recorded 380 confirmed cases of cerebrospinal meningitis from 4,915 suspected cases, with 361 deaths reported in 24 states across 174 local government areas during the 2023-2024 season.

“We have continued to see a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases,” Dr. Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a press briefing Tuesday in Abuja. 

According to punch, In 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed Lassa fever cases across 27 states and 112 local government areas. In 2023, 28 states and 114 local government areas reported confirmed cases, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths.

“The disease also leads to significant loss of livelihood in affected communities. 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, which is often significant, strains existing household income, pushing families toward poverty,” Idris said.

Idris also discussed cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), noting that it is an epidemic-prone disease with year-round cases in Nigeria. He stated that weather conditions, such as the dry season with dust, winds, cold nights, and frequent upper respiratory tract infections, increase the risk of infection.

“The highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the ‘Meningitis Belt,’ which includes all 19 northern states, the Federal Capital Territory, and some southern states including Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, and Osun,” he said.

During the 2023-2024 season, Nigeria recorded 4,915 suspected CSM cases and 380 confirmed cases, with 361 deaths across 174 local government areas in 24 states, including the FCT. A total of 2,281,750 doses of Men5CV-ACWYX vaccine were administered in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, and Yobe.  

Health officials urge vaccinations to curb meningitis spread

Punch stated that Idris urged Nigerians to get the necessary vaccinations against meningitis, avoid close, prolonged contact with confirmed CSM cases, and avoid overcrowding in households, camps for internally displaced people, prisons, and other communal settings.

He also advised healthcare workers to practice standard infection prevention and control measures, maintain a high index of suspicion for CSM, and report all suspected cases to their local government disease surveillance and notification officer.

Idris explained that the Nigerian federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC, leads efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to Lassa fever cases across the country each year.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever.