No fewer than 366 lives have been lost to Lassa fever and meningitis across 24 states of the federation, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has said.

The centre, in a situation report published on its official website, described the diseases as a growing public health concern, with young adults and children being the most vulnerable.

According to the agency, between January 1 and May 18, 2025, a total of 733 confirmed cases of Lassa fever were recorded out of 5,118 suspected infections across 95 Local Government Areas in 18 states.

Within the same period, Lassa fever alone claimed 141 lives, representing a case fatality rate, CFR, of 19.2 per cent, a slight rise from the 18.3 per cent CFR recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

The centre noted that in epidemiological week 20 alone, infections spiked from three to 13 new cases, with Edo, Ondo and Benue states most affected.

It stated: “The case fatality rate of 19.2 per cent indicates that nearly one in every five infected persons is dying, despite sustained and coordinated national response efforts.”

NCDC listed Ondo, Bauchi and Edo as the epicentres of the Lassa fever outbreak, accounting for 30 per cent, 25 per cent and 17 per cent of all confirmed cases respectively, making up 72 per cent of total infections nationwide.

The disease, it further explained, is taking a heavier toll on young adults aged between 21 and 30 years, with infections reported in nearly equal proportions among males and females.

However, the agency disclosed that no new infections were reported among healthcare workers in the latest reporting week.

Despite this, it warned of a surge in new infections and urged states and healthcare facilities to maintain heightened surveillance and preventive measures.

To bolster the response, the agency said a multi-sectoral Incident Management System had been activated to coordinate containment efforts nationwide.

The NCDC also raised alarm over the meningitis outbreak, which it described as even more severe than Lassa fever.

It said a total of 2,911 suspected meningitis cases had been documented in the country, with 192 confirmed and 225 deaths recorded, reflecting a case fatality rate of 7.7 per cent.

Children aged five to 14 years were the most affected age group, the report said, with males constituting 60 per cent of all confirmed cases.

The outbreak, which has spread across 173 Local Government Areas in 24 states, is largely concentrated in the North, with 10 states, including Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto and Jigawa, accounting for 97 per cent of suspected infections.

In response to the worsening situation, the NCDC said it had activated a national Emergency Operations Centre, working in close coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, and other development partners.

The centre added that it was holding regular high-level meetings with affected states to review and refine intervention strategies.

“We are providing continuous technical support to high-burden states and reinforcing outbreak preparedness across the country,” the statement said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily through contact with urine or faeces of infected rats.

Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or improperly steril