Lassa fever, a persistent public health challenge in Nigeria, continues to pose a significant threat with the onset of 2025. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports a concerning trend in the first week of the year, registering 54 confirmed cases and 10 deaths from December 30, 2024, to January 5, 2025. This represents a slight decline in confirmed cases compared to the previous week but a worrisome increase in the case fatality rate (CFR) to 18.5%, significantly higher than the 11.3% recorded during the same period in 2024. The geographical spread of the disease encompasses six states – Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Kogi – and spans across 20 local government areas. Alarmingly, 78% of the confirmed cases are concentrated in three states: Ondo (35%), Edo (28%), and Bauchi (15%), underscoring the need for targeted interventions in these high-burden regions.
The demographic profile of the affected population reveals that young adults aged 21-30 are most susceptible, although cases range from 3 to 70 years old, with a median age of 31.5 years. The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.6, suggesting a slightly higher prevalence among males. Concerningly, the NCDC observes an increase in the number of suspected cases compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting the urgency of enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capacity. This rise in suspected cases may indicate increased awareness and testing efforts, but it also reflects the ongoing transmission and potential for further spread of the virus. While no new healthcare workers were affected during this reporting week, their vulnerability remains a crucial concern, emphasizing the importance of stringent infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings.
In response to this evolving situation, the NCDC has activated the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System. This comprehensive approach aims to coordinate response activities at all levels, ensuring effective case management, contact tracing, and community engagement. The agency’s proactive stance is further emphasized by the activation of the Emergency Operations Centre for Lassa fever in December 2024, reflecting a high-risk assessment of the current outbreak. The Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, underscored the agency’s commitment to addressing the outbreak during the peak transmission season, recognizing the critical need for heightened vigilance and coordinated efforts.
The severity of the Lassa fever challenge in Nigeria is evident in the 2024 data, which recorded a staggering 9,685 suspected cases, 1,187 confirmed cases, and 191 deaths across 28 states and 138 local government areas. This widespread impact necessitates a multi-pronged strategy that integrates surveillance, prevention, and control measures to mitigate the disease’s devastating effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Lassa fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family. Transmission primarily occurs through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats, highlighting the crucial role of environmental sanitation and rodent control in preventing infections.
Understanding the transmission dynamics of Lassa fever is essential for effective prevention and control. The virus’s natural reservoir is the Mastomys rat, a common rodent found in many parts of West Africa, making the disease endemic in the region. Human infections typically arise from exposure to contaminated food or household items. The virus can also spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, emphasizing the need for strict infection control protocols in healthcare settings and within households. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical for improving patient outcomes, as delayed intervention can lead to severe complications and even death. Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, is the recommended treatment for Lassa fever and is most effective when administered early in the course of the illness.
Combating Lassa fever requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that addresses the root causes of transmission. Improving environmental sanitation, promoting safe food storage practices, and implementing effective rodent control measures are crucial for reducing human exposure to the virus. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, including diagnostic capacity and access to treatment, is essential for prompt case management. Raising public awareness about Lassa fever, its transmission pathways, and preventive measures is also vital for empowering communities to protect themselves. Continuous surveillance and monitoring of the disease are essential for tracking trends, identifying hotspots, and enabling timely interventions. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations are crucial for effectively combating this persistent public health threat and protecting vulnerable populations from the devastating consequences of Lassa fever.
