Saturday, May 3, 2025 - The Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the country
has recorded 832 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and Mpox.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, the
agency’s Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, revealed that 132 fatalities were
recorded from Lassa fever and three from Mpox.
While acknowledging a recent decline in Lassa fever
infections during epidemiological week 16 (ending April 20, 2025), he warned
that the overall risk remains high, particularly in endemic regions.
“Cumulatively, as of week 16, Nigeria has reported 4,253
suspected cases of Lassa fever, 696 confirmed cases, and 132 deaths, resulting
in a case fatality rate of 19.0 percent,” he stated.
Dr. Idris attributed recent improvements to intensified
surveillance, treatment efforts, and enhanced community engagement. He
emphasized, however, the continued need for vigilance and collaboration to
sustain progress.
Regarding Mpox, the NCDC boss disclosed that three deaths
have been recorded in 2025—two in Abia and Ebonyi States in week 10, and one
recently in Rivers State involving a patient co-infected with HIV and
tuberculosis. As of week 16, 723 suspected cases and 136 laboratory-confirmed
cases of Mpox have been reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT). The national case fatality rate currently stands at 2.2 per
cent.
“The epidemic curve reveals multiple peaks in Mpox cases,
indicating ongoing transmission. While most states have reported suspected
cases, confirmed infections are heavily concentrated in Nigeria’s southern and
central regions,” Dr. Idris noted.
To address these outbreaks, the NCDC has activated its
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), deployed National Rapid Response Teams to
affected states, and prepositioned essential medical supplies, including
personal protective equipment and laboratory consumables. Five additional Mpox
diagnostic laboratories have also been optimized in Bauchi, Kano, Cross River,
Rivers, and Enugu States.
“Healthcare workers are undergoing specialized training in infection
prevention, case management, and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) care. Community
outreach is being reinforced through public awareness campaigns, media
engagement, and targeted health communication strategies,” he added.
On cerebrospinal meningitis, Dr. Idris reported a consistent decline in
new cases and fatalities over the last three weeks. He attributed the
improvement to effective vaccination, early treatment, and adaptive
surveillance strategies tailored to real-time data.
“Although the situation remains serious, strong national and state-level
coordination is showing positive results. The response will continue until full
containment is achieved and states take full ownership of the CSM Incident
Action Plan,” he said.
Dr. Idris also expressed concern about the rising Mpox trend since its
reemergence in 2017, with significant spikes recorded between 2022 and 2024,
positioning Nigeria among the most affected countries globally. He warned that
underreporting and delayed data entry remain challenges that need urgent
resolution to ensure accurate and timely outbreak response.
A national mortality review for the recent Mpox deaths is being planned to
further assess response effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
The NCDC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through timely surveillance, transparent reporting, and coordinated national response mechanisms aimed at reducing disease burden and preventing future outbreaks.
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