Nigeria faced a severe public health crisis in 2025, recording at least 1,738 deaths from widespread outbreaks of cholera, Lassa fever, measles, and diphtheria across the nation. Official situation reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) meticulously documented the extent of these epidemics, which collectively led to thousands of suspected and confirmed infections, placing immense strain on the country’s already stretched healthcare infrastructure and public health resources.
The persistent and widespread transmission of these highly infectious diseases exacted a heavy toll across numerous states, demonstrating significant and multifaceted public health challenges. The comprehensive reports highlighted a concerning trend of rising case fatality rates in some instances, particularly for Lassa fever, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced intervention strategies and sustained public health initiatives to mitigate further loss of life and curb the rampant spread of these pathogens within vulnerable communities.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa, contributed significantly to the mortality figures, with 201 deaths reported from 1,097 confirmed infections out of 9,164 suspected cases. This severe outbreak spanned 21 states and 103 local government areas, presenting an alarming Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3 per cent. This figure notably exceeded the 16.1 per cent CFR recorded for the same period in 2024, indicating a worsening epidemiological trend and a critical situation for affected populations.
Cholera outbreaks also ravaged communities, leading to 22,102 reported cases and 500 fatalities, resulting in a CFR of 2.3 per cent, often exacerbated by poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. Concurrently, measles infections surged nationwide, with 19,213 confirmed cases from 26,866 suspected cases, causing 153 deaths across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kebbi states alone accounted for over 66 per cent of the suspected measles cases, primarily affecting children aged 9 to 59 months, who represent a highly vulnerable demographic.
Diphtheria presented another critical public health emergency, with Nigeria tragically reporting the highest number of cases in the entire African Region. By early November 2025, the country documented 8,587 confirmed cases from 12,150 suspected infections, alongside a devastating 884 deaths. This outbreak represented a substantial CFR of 7.2 per cent, with confirmed cases recorded across 240 local government areas in 30 states. The disease disproportionately impacted children and adolescents, a demographic particularly vulnerable due to often inadequate vaccination coverage, allowing for rapid community transmission.
Efforts to control these escalating outbreaks faced significant hurdles, primarily stemming from persistently low vaccination coverage across many regions, particularly for vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria. Official data indicates that over two million Nigerian children remain under-immunised, with a substantial number having received zero doses. This critical gap in immunisation coverage creates fertile ground for the rapid and widespread dissemination of preventable diseases, posing a severe and ongoing threat to public health security.
Further challenges included pervasive delays in laboratory confirmation of suspected cases, which hampered timely diagnosis and intervention, alongside weak infection prevention and control practices within healthcare settings. The situation was compounded by chronic shortages of essential vaccines and a lack of adequate public information, education, and communication materials necessary to foster community engagement and adherence to public health guidelines. These systemic issues underscore the complex nature of Nigeria’s ongoing battle against these formidable infectious diseases.
While reactive vaccination campaigns were conducted in several states, including Imo, Kaduna, and Lagos, targeting health workers and priority populations, and discussions with global partners are ongoing to secure additional support, the underlying systemic vulnerabilities persist. Addressing these fundamental issues, from vaccine access to public health education, remains paramount to effectively combatting future outbreaks and safeguarding the health of the Nigerian populace.
