The Federal Government has raised alarm over the growing health and economic burden posed by hepatitis and Lassa fever in Nigeria, revealing that over 4,200 Nigerians die annually from liver cancer linked to untreated hepatitis, while the country loses up to N17.9 trillion each year in direct and indirect costs related to the disease.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing to mark the 2025 World Hepatitis Day. He was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom.
Pate revealed that Nigeria carries the third-highest burden of hepatitis globally, with more than 20 million people living with Hepatitis B and C—18.2 million with Hepatitis B and 2.5 million with Hepatitis C. He noted that over 90 percent of those infected are undiagnosed, often mistaking symptoms such as fever and fatigue for malaria, leading to the silent progression of the disease to liver failure or cancer.
“Tragically, 4,252 Nigerians die annually from liver cancer caused by untreated hepatitis,” Pate said. “Despite available vaccines and treatments, many remain unaware of their condition and unknowingly transmit the virus.”
He added that the socioeconomic cost of hepatitis in Nigeria is staggering, with annual losses estimated between N13.3 trillion and N17.9 trillion.
To address the crisis, the Federal Government is launching a new nationwide campaign tagged Project 365, aimed at constituency-level screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The goal is to eliminate Hepatitis C and curb the transmission of Hepatitis B by 2030.
Pate also announced other government measures, including increased budgetary support for hepatitis programmes, creation of a Viral Elimination Fund, tax incentives for pharmaceutical manufacturers, and legislative reforms to improve access to diagnostics and treatment nationwide.
Meanwhile, in a separate report, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed 811 cases of Lassa fever and 152 deaths so far in 2025. According to its Week 28 Situation Report (covering July 7–13), 11 new confirmed cases were recorded in Ondo, Edo, and Benue states.
The NCDC noted that 89 percent of confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported in five states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi. The disease’s case fatality rate now stands at 18.7 percent—higher than the 17.3 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.
The report further indicated that the most affected age group is 21–30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8 among confirmed cases. No new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the week under review.
The NCDC assured that the multi-sectoral Lassa fever Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities across all levels to contain the outbreak.
