The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a troubling rise in confirmed Lassa fever cases, with 1,018 infections documented from January 1 to September 29, 2024. This figure emerges from a total of 8,411 suspected cases across 28 states and 128 local government areas. The report highlights a significant public health challenge as the nation grapples with the implications of this viral disease.
The NCDC’s latest situation report indicates a grim toll, with 172 deaths attributed to Lassa fever, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 16.9 percent. This CFR is slightly higher than the 16.8 percent recorded during the same period in 2023, underscoring the persistence of the virus in Nigeria’s health landscape. “In week 39, the number of new confirmed cases increased from four in epidemiology week 38 to nine,” the report noted, detailing recent trends in the outbreak.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is primarily spread through contact with food or items contaminated with the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic to several countries in West Africa, including Nigeria, where it has become a recurrent public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that “person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings.”
The latest report reveals that the majority of confirmed cases—68 percent—originated from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states. Specifically, Ondo reported 28 percent of these cases, followed closely by Edo with 23 percent and Bauchi at 17 percent. The predominant age group affected is between 31 and 40 years, with a median age of 32 years. Notably, the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases remains balanced at 1:1.
In addition to the Lassa fever outbreak, the NCDC has also flagged an alarming 220 percent increase in cholera cases this year, further straining Nigeria’s healthcare resources. The rising incidence of other infectious diseases, such as Mpox, particularly among males, highlights the pressing need for enhanced public health measures and surveillance.
Despite the concerning statistics, the NCDC reported no new infections among healthcare workers in the most recent week, indicating some success in implementing infection prevention and control measures. “The National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues coordinating the response activities at all levels,” the report stated, underscoring ongoing efforts to manage the outbreak.
