The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that 118 people lost their lives to Lassa fever in the first quarter of 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Head of Corporate Communications at NCDC, Sani Datti. According to Mr. Datti, 3,465 suspected cases were recorded between January and March across 91 local government areas (LGAs) in 33 states.
Out of these, 645 cases were laboratory-confirmed, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.3%.
Healthcare Workers Affected
The report further revealed that 20 healthcare workers were among those infected. Ondo State recorded the highest number with eight cases, followed by Bauchi with four. Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Gombe, Benue, and Ogun states recorded between one and two cases each.
To curb the spread of the virus, the NCDC has deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to 10 states, including Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa. The deployments, initially scheduled for two weeks, were extended in Edo and Taraba by 10 and seven days, respectively, due to the severity of the outbreak in those areas.
Call for Collective Action
The Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, has urged state governments and the private sector to intensify efforts to combat the outbreak. He emphasized the need for financial support for Lassa fever treatment and highlighted the private sector’s role in ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies and raising public health awareness.
“Preventing Lassa fever requires a collective effort. While the NCDC and state governments are leading the response, every Nigerian has a role to play in reducing the spread of the virus,” he stated.
Mr. Idris also stressed the importance of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures for healthcare workers, urging them to maintain vigilance and a high index of suspicion when treating potential cases.
Environmental Hygiene Key to Prevention
The NCDC has advised Nigerians to prioritize environmental hygiene to prevent rats—the primary carriers of the Lassa virus—from contaminating homes, food, and utensils.
Authorities have been urged to collaborate across sectors to curb the spread and minimize fatalities associated with the disease.
Understanding Lassa Fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or direct contact with infected persons. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pains, and chest pain. In severe cases, the disease can cause unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings.