Nigerian Health Agency Urges Stronger State Action on Lassa Fever Outbreak. Lagos, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is calling for intensified state-level measures to combat the escalating outbreak of lassa fever, an illness caused by the lassa virus, which is endemic to parts of West Africa.
The disease typically peaks during the dry season from November to May.
According to the NCDC, at least 18 states are currently affected, with the highest number of cases reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, and Edo.
As of February 15, the agency confirmed 326 cases and 75 deaths, including three healthcare workers.
The NCDC has attributed the spread of the disease to poor infection prevention practices and inadequate access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), particularly in outpatient and maternity wards.
The lassa virus is transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated with rats’ urine or faeces, or by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.
The health agency has also highlighted gaps in contact tracing and active case search, as well as stigmas and misconceptions that prevent individuals from seeking early care.
The NCDC is urging states to allocate outbreak response funds for surveillance, logistics, and community awareness.
Key recommendations include enforcing strict compliance with protection and prevention practices, ensuring a continuous supply of PPE, and promoting rodent control and safe food storage. Lassa fever, which belongs to the same family as Marburg and Ebola, can lead to infections with fever, vomiting, and, in severe cases, hemorrhagic bleeding.
The disease is named after the town of Lassa in northern Nigeria, where it was first identified in 1969.
While lassa fever is asymptomatic in 80 percent of cases, it can cause internal bleeding when diagnosed late. Further details are expected as the situation continues to develop.
