Nigeria’s public health system has recently been stretched to its limits, with two deadly illnesses in particular – Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) and Lassa Fever – claiming hundreds of lives over the past year.
According to the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Olajide Idris, these twin public health crises have taken a devastating toll, with CSM and Lassa Fever responsible for a combined 762 deaths between 2023 and 2024.
“The loss of human lives resulting from these diseases are not just statistics, but represent the death of beloved family members, spouses, and parents,” Dr. Idris said in a sobering statement. “Healthcare workers are also not excluded, and the death of experienced personnel further strains the country’s already insufficient human resources for health.”
The CSM outbreak, which occurred primarily in the “Meningitis Belt” region covering the northern states and some parts of the south, saw 4,915 suspected cases and 380 confirmed cases, leading to 361 fatalities across 174 local government areas. Dry season conditions, including dust, winds, and upper respiratory infections, have been cited as key factors driving the spike in CSM cases.
In response, the NCDC mobilised a massive vaccination campaign, administering over 2.2 million doses of the Men5CV-ACWYX vaccine in the affected states. However, with the disease’s endemic nature in Nigeria, public health experts warn that sustained efforts will be critical to controlling future outbreaks.
The Lassa Fever crisis has been equally alarming, with 3,372 confirmed cases reported nationwide between 2022 and 2024, resulting in 401 deaths. The highly contagious viral hemorrhagic fever, transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids, has seen a steady rise in the number of affected states, from 27 in 2022 to 28 in 2023 and 2024.
“Lassa Fever outbreaks are highly virulent, and the loss of human lives is not just a statistic,” Dr. Idris said. “It represents the death of beloved family members, spouses, and parents. The disease is also associated with significant loss of livelihood in the communities it ravages.”
The NCDC has attributed the increasing Lassa Fever cases to a combination of factors, including improved surveillance, better community awareness, and the environmental degradation caused by climate change and other harmful human activities.
Experts warn that the impact of these diseases extends far beyond the immediate loss of life, with Lassa Fever in particular pushing already vulnerable households towards poverty. “Heads of households are unable to work when exposed to Lassa Fever, and the cost of care and treatment often strains existing household incomes,” Dr. Idris explained.
To address these public health crises, the Nigerian government has ramped up efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, enhance community engagement, and improve access to essential healthcare services. The NCDC has also been working closely with international partners to secure additional resources and expertise in the fight against CSM and Lassa Fever.
However, with the ongoing challenges posed by limited healthcare infrastructure, funding constraints, and the need for sustained public awareness campaigns, Nigeria’s battle against these deadly diseases is far from over. As Dr. Idris emphasised, “The loss of human lives resulting from these diseases are not just statistics, but represent the death of beloved family members, spouses, and parents – a burden that no community should have to bear.”
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7m7dvJuyA7h5XMc22i
