Nigeria is battling a dual epidemic as Lassa fever and meningitis have claimed a combined 366 lives within the last several months, according to the latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Between January 1 and May 18, 2025, the country saw a disturbing surge in Lassa fever infections, with 733 confirmed cases out of 5,118 suspected across 18 states and 95 local government areas.
The virus led to 141 deaths, revealing a high case fatality rate of 19.2 percent—nearly one in five confirmed patients did not survive.
Meanwhile, an earlier and overlapping outbreak of meningitis, spanning from September 30, 2024, to April 6, 2025, spread through 24 states and 173 LGAs. Of the 2,911 suspected cases, 192 were confirmed. The toll was even grimmer, with 225 fatalities recorded, resulting in a case fatality rate of 7.7 percent.
The twin outbreaks are stretching Nigeria’s public health system, raising concerns about response capacity, healthcare access, and the need for improved disease surveillance in affected regions. With the rainy season approaching—a period typically associated with spikes in infectious diseases—health authorities are on high alert, urging citizens to remain vigilant.
