Amidst the backdrop of Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system, the battle against Lassa fever rages on. The disease’s fatality rate, as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has surged from 17.2% in 2024 to 18.6% in 2025, leaving a trail of devastation across communities.
Investigation says over 854 confirmed cases have been reported this year across 21 states and 106 local government areas, with 159 deaths so far.
Crisis
The NCDC noted that 90 per cent of all cases came from just five states: Ondo, 33 per cent; Bauchi, 23 per cent; Edo, 17 per cent; Taraba, 14 per cent; and Ebonyi, three per cent, while the remaining 10 per cent were spread across 16 other states.
The Nigerian public health agency has noted that the most affected age group remains the young adults between 21 and 30 years. This demographic, with slightly more males than females affected, is particularly vulnerable to the disease, raising significant concerns.
Despite a drop in the number of suspected and confirmed cases compared to 2024, the battle against Lassa fever is far from over. The Nigerian Public Health agency has highlighted that challenges, both known and unforeseen, persist in this fight.
The agency disclosed that, with partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and local institutions, it had intensified response activities, ranging from clinicians’ sensitisation, community awareness campaigns, and the distribution of treatment commodities to training.
It further stated that it had also deployed 10 rapid response teams to support states’ integrated Lassa fever risk communication efforts within other viral haemorrhagic fever campaigns, and launched an e-learning platform on infection prevention and control.
The NCDC underscores the importance of maintaining year-round community engagement on Lassa fever prevention. Simultaneously, it urges healthcare workers to uphold a high index of suspicion and ensure the early referral and treatment of suspected cases.
Despite its devastating impact, Lassa fever does not receive the same level of global urgency and funding as high-profile diseases like COVID-19 or Ebola.
As devastating as the disease is, patients are often not aware of the symptoms; they don’t appear on time for treatment, and are not adequately diagnosed, making it a grave concern for health workers, as expressed by a nurse, who does not want her name in print.
Causes
Lassa virus, a member of the Arenaviridae family, causes Lassa fever. It spreads primarily when the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats (also known as multimammate rats) come into contact with food or household items and contaminate them.
Human-to-human transmission can occur, particularly in healthcare facilities where proper infection control measures are not in place.
Contact with the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats, which is common in various households in Nigeria, transmits the virus. However, families can not effectively control the rodents as they move about and raid indiscriminately.
Treatment
Although ribavirin, an antiviral medication, is available, medical personnel must administer it promptly to achieve effectiveness. Nigeria has recently joined a $6.4 million international consortium aimed at accelerating vaccine development, despite the approved vaccine not yet being available.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, has called for “year-round surveillance, community education, and investment in diagnostic capacity.” However, this conflicts with other health urgencies and a paucity of funds, a response that, medical personnel believe, may not be preventive.
Impacts on Humans
The devastating effect of Lassa fever has significantly impacted humans, as those who survive the disease often suffer permanent hearing loss, and pregnant women are at risk, as up to 95% of infected pregnancies result in miscarriage. In most cases, the disease has taken the lives of many people.
What Next?
Can Lassa fever be tackled urgently, even as the debilitating epidemic continues to wreak havoc and take lives indiscriminately?