Nigeria Faces 80 Fatalities in Recent Lassa Fever Outbreak
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The ongoing Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has resulted in at least 80 deaths across 11 states. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 413 cases, with significant challenges highlighted in response efforts.
Key Takeaways
- 80 deaths reported in 11 states
- 413 confirmed cases since January
- Case fatality rate at 19.4%
- Ondo state most affected
- Health challenges include high treatment costs
Abuja, Feb 25 (NationPress) At least 80 fatalities have been documented across 11 states in Nigeria during the ongoing outbreak of Lassa fever, according to public health officials.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) stated in a release that 413 confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been identified since the outbreak commenced in January.
The NCDC reported a case fatality rate of 19.4 percent, highlighting that three states are responsible for 73 percent of the confirmed cases. The southwestern state of Ondo is the most affected, accounting for at least 34 percent of the total confirmed cases.
The public health agency noted that the outbreak has extended to 63 of Nigeria's 774 local government areas, predominantly impacting individuals aged 21 to 30, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
The NCDC has pointed out significant challenges such as poor health-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs in some regions, and limited awareness in high-burden communities. They have initiated a multi-sectoral incident management system to oversee nationwide response efforts, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
“The interventions also involve training healthcare workers in Lassa fever management, improving surveillance, and conducting contact tracing in affected states. Moreover, there will be a distribution of essential response materials like personal protective equipment, Ribavirin, thermometers, and body bags, along with community education and risk communication initiatives in hotspot areas,” the NCDC added.
In 2024, Nigeria recorded 214 deaths from Lassa fever, as per the NCDC.
Lassa fever is mainly transmitted through food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or feces. Human transmission occurs through direct contact with rat saliva, urine, or excrement.
About 80 percent of individuals infected with the Lassa virus exhibit no or mild symptoms. One in five infections lead to severe disease, affecting multiple organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys. The incubation period for Lassa fever ranges from 2 to 21 days.
