Lassa Fever: NCDC reports 118 deaths, 645 cases between January and March

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 3,465 suspected cases of Lassa fever, with 645 confirmed cases and 118 deaths across 91 Local Government Areas in 33 states from January to March 2025.

The death toll reflects a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3%.

Sadly, 20 healthcare workers have also contracted the disease—8 in Ondo, 4 in Bauchi, 1 in Edo, 2 in Taraba, 1 in Ebonyi, 2 in Gombe, 1 in Benue, and 1 in Ogun states.

The NCDC has highlighted that treatment centres are facing staff shortages, and many patients delay seeking care, often turning to self-medication and unproven remedies, which prove ineffective.

Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, shared this information in a statement yesterday in Abuja. He explained that to improve the response to the outbreak, the agency has activated the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre (LF-EOC) at Response Level.

“The activation of the LF-EOC allows for better coordination among all stakeholders, including federal, state, and local governments, as well as development partners and others,” he said.

Dr. Idris also noted that in a bid to strengthen the response, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) were sent to 10 states—Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa—for two weeks between January and March 2025.

“As the situation developed in certain areas, deployments in Edo and Taraba were extended by 10 and 7 days, respectively,” he added.

He mentioned that the NCDC has distributed essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and treatment medications, to the affected states.

“The agency has also issued state-specific advisories to guide the prevention and control of Lassa fever,” he said.

Dr. Idris acknowledged the challenges hampering response efforts, such as weak community-level surveillance, which delays early detection, and insufficient human and financial resources for treatment, contact tracing, and active case searching at state and community levels.

He urged individuals who suspect they may have Lassa fever to seek medical care promptly for the best chance of recovery.

The NCDC Director General also appealed to state governments to assist with the cost of treating Lassa fever and similar diseases.

He stressed the vital role of the private sector in ensuring the supply of essential medical goods and supporting public health awareness campaigns.

Dr. Idris concluded by emphasising that preventing the spread of Lassa fever requires a collective effort. While the NCDC and state governments are leading the response, every Nigerian has a part to play in reducing the virus’s spread.

He reiterated the importance of healthcare workers consistently applying infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and remaining vigilant for signs of Lassa fever.

Dr. Idris also urged Nigerians to prioritise hygiene practices and take steps to prevent rats from accessing their homes, food, and utensils, as these remain the most effective means of prevention.