Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a severe Lassa fever outbreak, with 3,465 suspected cases, 645 confirmed infections, and 118 fatalities recorded across 91 Local Government Areas in 33 states between January and March 2025. The death toll reflects an alarming Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3%, underscoring the urgency of containment efforts.
Healthcare Workers at Risk
The outbreak has disproportionately affected medical personnel, with 20 healthcare workers infected across eight states. Ondo State recorded the highest infections (8), followed by Bauchi (4), Taraba and Gombe (2 each), with single cases in Edo, Ebonyi, Benue, and Ogun states. The NCDC warned that treatment centers are grappling with severe manpower shortages, while many patients delay seeking proper medical care, often resorting to self-medication and unorthodox treatments that prove ineffective against the viral hemorrhagic fever.
National Emergency Response Activated
NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris revealed that the agency has escalated its response by activating the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre (LF-EOC) to enhance coordination among federal, state, and local authorities, as well as development partners. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) were deployed to 10 high-burden states: Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa for two-week interventions, with missions in Edo and Taraba extended due to worsening outbreaks.
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Logistical and Systemic Challenges
Despite distributing critical medical supplies like personal protective equipment (PPEs) and antiviral drugs, Dr. Idris cited persistent obstacles including weak community-level surveillance, which delays outbreak detection, and insufficient funding for contact tracing and case searches. He appealed to state governments to subsidize treatment costs and urged private sector involvement in supplying medical resources and public health awareness campaigns.
Public Health Advisory
The NCDC emphasized preventive measures, urging Nigerians to maintain strict environmental hygiene to deter rats the primary carriers of Lassa virus from entering homes and contaminating food. Healthcare workers were advised to maintain high vigilance and adhere to infection control protocols. "Early medical attention is crucial for survival," stressed Dr. Idris, noting that late hospital presentations remain a major driver of fatalities.
With the outbreak showing no signs of abating, the NCDC's call for a multi-sectoral approach highlights the delicate balance between resource limitations and the escalating public health crisis. As the rainy season approaches traditionally associated with increased Lassa fever transmission authorities race against time to curb what has become one of Nigeria's most persistent infectious disease threats.
For prevention guidelines and real-time updates, visit the NCDC’s official portal.
