Lassa fever: NCDC, experts raise alarm, advocate prevention, early treatment

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said Nigeria is experiencing a surge in Lassa fever, with Bauchi, Edo and Ondo states recording higher numbers since November 2024.

The Director General of the centre, Dr Jide Idris, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Abuja. He said the disease control agency had issued a comprehensive public advisory on Lassa fever, urging Nigerians to adopt preventive measures as cases continue to rise during the peak transmission season.

He warned that the peak dry season, which lasts until April, could exacerbate outbreak if preventive measures were not strictly adhered to. NAN reports that Lassa fever, named after the town of Lassa in Borno where it was first identified in 1969, is endemic in Nigeria, with outbreaks occurring almost every year.

The viral hemorrhagic disease is primarily transmitted through contact with food or surfaces contaminated with excretions from infected rodents. The disease can also spread through direct contact with body fluids of infected persons, making healthcare workers and caregivers particularly vulnerable.

Symptoms range from mild fever and joint pain to severe bleeding from the nose, mouth and gastrointestinal tract. The disease is fatal in about 20 per cent of cases, particularly when treatment is delayed.

The NCDC boss recommended frequent hand washing with soap and water, storing food items in rodent-proof containers and proper disposal of waste to deter rodents. He stressed the need for increased public awareness and early intervention, which he described as keys to curbing an outbreak. He added that the centre intensified surveillance and response activities in affected states and advised Nigerians to report suspected cases to the nearest health
facility and ensure proper hygiene practices are observed.

He said late reporting of cases had been a major source of concern, which hinder effective containment.

Meanwhile, a public health expert, Dr Tunde Oladipo, has described Lassa fever outbreak as “a serious, but preventable health crisis. Oladipo said: “Strict hygiene practices, proper food storage and rodent control are crucial to reducing transmission. Individuals should avoid unprotected contact with sick persons or their fluids.”