Tag: Lassa fever

Due to the ongoing outbreak of Lassa fever in parts of the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) deployed its Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa States for an initial two-week period between January and March 2025, it has emerged 

The agency said as part of its response strategy and due to the evolving nature of the outbreak, the deployments in Edo and Taraba were extended by 10 and 7 days, respectively.  

Director General (DG) of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, said RRTs’ deployment became necessary following the identification of 3,465 suspected Lassa fever cases across 91 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 States during the period.

Out of the cases, he said 645 were confirmed, while tragically 118 died, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3%.  

In a statement by NCDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Datti, the DG revealed that healthcare workers have also been affected with 20 infections recorded with 8 in Ondo, 4 in Bauchi, 1 in Edo, 2 in Taraba, 1 in Ebonyi, 2 in Gombe, 1 in Benue, and 1 in Ogun States.  

Given this tragic development, he said to enhance outbreak response and control, the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre (LF-EOC) had been activated at Response Level 2. 

The move, according to him, was to strengthen coordination among key stakeholders, including Federal, States, and Local governments, as well as development partners, he noted.

He said the NCDC has supplied affected States with critical medical resources, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) while treatment medications with State-specific advisories have also been issued to aid in Lassa fever prevention and control efforts.  

He, however, listed several challenges that have continued to hinder containment efforts, such as inadequate surveillance at the community level, limited human and financial resources for case management, contact tracing, and early detection. 

He lamented that treatment centers are also grappling with staff shortages, while delays in seeking medical attention, often due to self-medication and reliance on traditional remedies, have further complicated the situation.  

He urged individuals with suspected Lassa fever symptoms to seek medical attention promptly to improve treatment outcomes while calling on State governments to assist in covering treatment costs for Lassa fever and similar diseases. 

He also emphasised the importance of private sector involvement in ensuring the availability of medical supplies and raising public health awareness.  

While stressing that controlling the spread of Lassa fever requires collective responsibility, Idris assured that the NCDC and State governments are at the forefront of response efforts and every Nigerian must take proactive steps to reduce transmission.  

He also reinforced the need for healthcare workers to adhere strictly to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures while maintaining a high level of vigilance for Lassa fever cases.  

The agency urged the public to prioritize environmental hygiene by taking measures to prevent rodent infestations in homes, food storage areas, and utensils, one of the most effective ways to curb the spread of the disease.  

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has emphasised the growing urgency for Nigerians to maintain rodent-free environments and enhance personal hygiene amid the ongoing Lassa fever outbreak.  

With the disease spreading and already claiming 98 lives in 2025, including a medical doctor, the agency stressed the need for preventive measures such as proper waste disposal, sealing food in airtight containers, and blocking rodent entry points.

The agency’s Director General (DG), Jide Idris, said that the public health advisory became necessary due to the alarming case fatality rate of 18.3% as of epidemiological week 9 (February 24 – March 2, 2025). 

During the period, he said the 98 deaths were recorded across 14 States, including that of a health worker, a physician.  

Breaking down the figures, the DG revealed that as of the period under review, Nigeria has recorded 2,728 suspected cases and 535 confirmed cases.  

He said Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi States accounted for 91% of confirmed cases, while 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) contributed 68% of the total cases.

Providing details on the physician’s case, Idris said the agency was notified of a confirmed Lassa fever infection in a 31-year-old physician who had recently returned from the United Kingdom.

“On the 5th of March 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) was notified of a confirmed case of Lassa fever by the Ondo State Ministry of Health, in a 31-year-old physician managed at a private health facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad (UK). 

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“The patient departed Nigeria on 19/02/2025 and returned on 27/02/2025. Samples were taken late on Friday, 28/02/2025, on suspicion of Lassa fever, but the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 01/03/2025. 

“The laboratory investigation result returned was a Lassa Fever positive on PCR on Tuesday 04/03/2025. 

“The patient was said to have visited his fiancée in Edo state, as well as family and friends before travelling,” he said.

The DG assured that to contain the outbreak, the Ondo State Ministry of Health has intensified contact tracing and monitoring of all possible contacts. 

He also noted that national health authorities have mobilised response efforts, including surveillance at points of entry and coordination with international health agencies. 

The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria has sparked concern, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirming 70 fatalities so far in 2025. 

Between January 27 and February 2, 2025, the country recorded 17 new deaths and 68 confirmed cases, including infections among healthcare workers. 

According to the NCDC, Taraba, Ondo, and Edo states remain the epicentres of the outbreak. The agency’s latest report indicates 1,552 suspected cases and 358 confirmed infections, with the disease peaking during the dry season from December to April. 

The hardest-hit states include Taraba with 18 deaths, Ondo with 17, and Edo with 11. Other affected states include Bauchi and Ebonyi, each reporting six deaths, Gombe with five, Kogi with four, and smaller counts from Plateau and Nasarawa.

This year, a staggering 75% of all confirmed cases have been concentrated in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi alone, specifically accounting for 37%, 20%, and 18% of the cases, respectively.

The age demographic most affected appears to be young adults, particularly those aged between 21 and 30 years.

The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases stands at approximately 1:0.8, indicating a slightly higher prevalence among men.

As of this year, the case fatality ratio (CFR) is 19.6%, a slight increase compared to the 19.2% CFR reported for the same period last year.

Despite a slight decrease in the number of new confirmed cases, with 68 reported in the latest week compared to 76 in the previous week, NCDC remained concerned.

The cumulative data shows that 10 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 58 Local Government Areas (LGAs), highlighting the widespread nature of the outbreak.

The NCDC emphasized the importance of recognizing the disease early, as low awareness and poor adherence to precautionary measures in clinical settings have exacerbated the situation.

Read Also: Lassa fever: Osun govt activates surveillance teams as Ondo recorded 12 deaths, 112 cases

The agency noted that challenges in managing the outbreak persist, particularly the late presentation of cases, which often results in higher mortality rates, adding that any individuals in high-burden communities exhibit poor health-seeking behaviour, often due to the prohibitive costs associated with treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever.

Additionally, inadequate environmental sanitation and low awareness levels continue to fuel the spread of the virus in these communities, the agency noted.

The agency, however, assured that it had activated the National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate response activities at all levels.

This initiative, it said, aims to tackle the outbreak comprehensively, addressing both immediate health concerns and the underlying factors that contribute to the disease’s spread.

NCDC also urged the public to be vigilant, maintain good hygiene practices, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms arise.

Over the years, Nigeria has consistently experienced both seasonal and sporadic outbreaks of Lassa fever, leading to numerous fatalities among the general public and healthcare professionals.

“The historical context of Lassa fever in Nigeria underscores the urgent need for sustained public health education and improved healthcare infrastructure to mitigate the impact of this persistent health threat.

“With the virus continuing to claim lives, the need for a coordinated national response has never been more critical,” a source within the agency who pleaded not to be named said.

Lassa fever, a haemorrhagic viral illness, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of multimammate rats, which are common carriers.

The rodents often invade homes in search of food, creating a health hazard.

Symptoms of the disease can range from fever, weakness, and muscle pain to severe cases where victims may bleed from various parts of the body.

The virus has a notable incubation period of six to 21 days, making it challenging to manage the spread effectively.

The Osun State government on Thursday activated surveillance teams in border communities after confirmation of 12 deaths and 112 cases of Lassa fever in Ondo State.

Acting Statistician-General of Ondo State, Olusola Ajayi revealed the number of cases and the deaths.

Amid the outbreak, Osun State has taken proactive steps to prevent any cases in the state. Dr. Adekunle Akindele, Special Adviser to the Osun Governor on Public Health, reassured residents that there are no confirmed cases of Lassa fever in Osun.

He disclosed that the state has activated surveillance teams on red alert in border towns, especially those closer to Ondo State.

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According to him, “We have activated our surveillance teams, especially at the border town in Owena. We are sensitizing people at the place. Our teams are there for advocacy and we have prepared our healthcare practitioners to respond to any suspected case.

“Our Infectious Control Centres (ICUs) are very active. We are prepared, peradventure if there are any confirmed cases we should be able to tackle them.”

He admonished the residents of Osun State to embrace good environmental hygiene noting that rats are carriers of the infection.

“I want to urge the residents of the state to ensure they clean their surroundings, clean their gutter, and maintain good hygiene. If anyone experiences unusually high temperature such person should report to nearest government health centre around them.”

…12 persons die

Ondo state government said 112 cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed out of 353 reported cases in the state since the recent outbreak.

It said 12 persons have been killed by the disease.

This was disclosed by the acting Statistician-General of the state, Olusola Ajayi when he was addressing workers of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority.

Ajayi urged the workers to collaborate with other relevant stakeholders in the health sector to help check the spread of the disease.

He said there was a need to act fast.

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According to him, “We are together in that business. We have to act fast now because of this data that I’m going to give you. In Ondo State today, there are 353 cases of Lassa fever, 112 have been confirmed. 12 people have died. So if we want to act, the time is now.”

Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola, assured that the state would fully utilise the newly upgraded laboratory by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) for the testing of Lassa fever at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Akure.

Ikuomola said samples would no longer be taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for testing and confirmation.

He said the laboratory upgraded with funding from the United States Center for Disease Control (USCDC) would assist in strengthening the state’s public health laboratory to test for Lassa fever and other infectious diseases.

The Permanent Secretary expressed optimism that the state would be able to control Lassa fever significantly as well as improve case management and case detection.

He said, “What we did here was a collaborative effort. The IHVN assisted in the training of personnel and provided needed support. We have provided things to complement what they have provided.

“We’ve also sent some equipment like 18. We’ve also conducted some levels of training for them but we will still do more in preparation to optimize the lab and make it functional to be able to test for Lassa fever especially in focus at the moment emergency operation centre.”

Epidemiologist and Surveillance Manager, IHVN, Dr Saiki Musa, said Ondo State took it as a duty to decentralise testing opportunities for Lassa fever and other infectious diseases.