Since January 2025, Nigeria has recorded 95 deaths and 509 confirmed cases of Lassa fever across 70 local government areas.
Additionally, the country reported 627 cases of measles spanning 30 states and 213 LGAs within the same period.
According to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Lassa fever cases were reported in 12 states, including Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi.
The agency, in its Week 8 situation report released on Wednesday, confirmed that one health worker was among those infected.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of NCDC, highlighted a significant reduction in cases compared to the 2,157 recorded in January 2024.
He also provided an update on measles, stating that from February 10 to 16, 112 out of the suspected cases (17.86 percent) were laboratory-confirmed, with no reported fatalities.
In comparison, the same period in 2024 saw 23 confirmed measles deaths, resulting in a fatality rate of 0.96 percent.
The highest number of suspected measles cases was recorded in Katsina (102), Jigawa (84), Akwa Ibom (56), Kebbi (52), and Enugu (32), which collectively accounted for over half of the national total.
Further analysis revealed that 81.3 percent of confirmed measles cases involved individuals who had not received any dose of the vaccine.
Additionally, nearly half (46.4 percent) of the confirmed cases were found in children aged between nine and 59 months.
As of January 31, active measles outbreaks were reported in 38 LGAs across 18 states, with Katsina leading with seven affected LGAs. Other states with multiple outbreak-affected areas included Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Sokoto, each with three affected LGAs.
Dr. Idris stressed that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles.
He explained that the measles vaccine, typically administered as part of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, is given in two doses at nine months and 15 months, following the guidelines of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
He further emphasized the need for strengthened routine immunization, particularly in high-risk areas, alongside early detection, rapid response to suspected cases, and public health awareness campaigns to encourage vaccination.