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

NCDC Reports Rising Lassa Fever Cases, Urges Public Hygiene Amid Outbreak Concerns

Lassa Fever

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:

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

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