Nigeria Recorded 3,372 Lassa Fever Cases Over Two Years – NCDC

• NCDC reports 1,035 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 174 deaths across 28 states, urging public hygiene to combat the outbreak
• The NCDC highlights environmental factors and improved surveillance contributing to the rise in Lassa fever cases and associated economic impacts

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that between 2022 and 2024, Nigeria recorded 3,372 cases of Lassa fever.

Dr. Jide Idris, the NCDC’s Director General, provided an update on the Lassa fever and meningitis outbreaks in Abuja.

Dr. Idris detailed that from 2022 to October 2024, Nigeria saw a total of 401 deaths due to Lassa fever. In 2022 alone, there were 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 local government areas (LGAs). By 2023, cases had spread to 28 states and 114 LGAs, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths reported.

As of October 13, 2024, an additional 1,035 confirmed cases and 174 deaths were reported across 28 states and 129 LGAs.

Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, is primarily transmitted by the multimammate rat (African rat) and other rodents.

Dr. Idris attributed the increase in cases partly to improved surveillance, greater community awareness, and environmental degradation from climate change and human activities.

He highlighted that the disease heavily impacts livelihoods, with infected heads of households unable to work, straining household income and pushing affected families toward poverty.

If proper infection prevention measures are not observed, healthcare workers are at high risk. This often leads to the loss of experienced personnel and further weakens Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Dr. Idris emphasized that the virus can spread through:

• Contact with urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats
• Contact with contaminated objects, household items, and surfaces
• Consumption of food or water contaminated by infected rats
• Person-to-person transmission via body fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva of an infected person

The NCDC urges the public to maintain proper hygiene and take preventive measures to reduce the spread of Lassa fever.