The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced a decline in disease outbreaks across the country, with a significant reduction in reported yellow fever, diphtheria, and cholera cases.
However, the Director General of NCDC, Jide Idris, warned of an imminent surge in cases of Lassa fever during a media briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, on Wednesday.
Mr Idris said: “Although Nigeria has experienced a decline in cases of various diseases, the country is approaching the Lassa fever season, which typically occurs annually.
“Given the seasonal nature of Lassa fever, we anticipate a potential increase in cases over the next few months. As such, we are proactively intensifying our preparedness efforts to mitigate the impact of the expected surge.”
Breakdown of disease outbreaks
NCDC said that as of September 2024, Nigeria had reported 1,728 suspected yellow fever cases, of which 43 tested positive.
He stated that 36 states and the FCT have been…