Lassa fever has persisted as a public health burden in Nigeria, claiming lives, especially in rural and under-resourced communities.
First identified in 1969 in the town of Lassa in Borno State, the disease has since entrenched itself in the country’s epidemiological landscape, with seasonal outbreaks occurring between November and April.
Despite interventions, the fight against Lassa fever in the country remains far from over.
What Is Lassa Fever?
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family. It is endemic in several West African countries including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Benin, Ghana, Mali and Togo.
Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Lassa fever is primarily transmitted through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats; a rodent species commonly found in many West African communities. The virus can also spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, urine, feces or during sexual activity.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 80 per cent of Lassa fever cases present mild symptoms such as fever, tiredness, sore throat, cough and headaches.
However, in about 20 per cent of infections, symptoms can quickly escalate to life-threatening conditions. These include severe vomiting or diarrhea, pain in the chest, neck or abdomen, difficulty breathing, bleeding from the eyes, mouth or nose, confusion and even seizures.
The disease is especially dangerous in settings lacking proper infection control. In health facilities where personal protective equipment (PPE) is either unavailable or poorly used, the virus can easily spread among healthcare workers and other patients.
On treatment, infectious disease specialists said that Ribavirin is most effective when administered in the early stages of the illness, stressing that delayed treatment significantly reduces its efficacy, leading to higher mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems.
They advocate for supportive care which includes the use of intravenous fluids and electrolytes to maintain hydration and correct imbalances and oxygen therapy for patients experiencing respiratory distress.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has also cautioned Nigerians against self-medication, stressing that not all fevers are malaria. Proper medical diagnosis is crucial in differentiating Lassa fever from other febrile illnesses.
Endemic states
So far in 2025, 18 states have recorded at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever, spanning 93 local government areas.
The Lassa fever situation report for Week 18 (Epidemiological Week 18) released recently by the NCDC, revealed that three states – Ondo, Bauchi, and Taraba – account for 71 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ondo alone reported 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Taraba 16 per cent. The remaining 28 per cent were spread across 15 other states.
The States are: Ondo (215), Bauchi (180), Taraba (116), Edo (114), Ebonyi (21), Kogi (15), Gombe (14), Plateau (13), Benue (10), Nasarawa (5), Kaduna (3), Enough (3), Delta (2), Cross River (2), Borno (1), Ogun (1), F CT (1) and Anambra (1).
Deaths were reported in 15 states: Ondo (27), Bauchi (15), Edo (19), Taraba (34), Ebonyi (11), Kogi (4), Gombe (7), Plateau (5), Benue (5), Nasarawa (4), Kaduna (2), Enugu (1), Delta (2), Cross River (1) and Ogun (1).
Also, for (Epidemiological Week 17), Ondo, Bauchi and Taraba states were leading the surge, as the states collectively account for 71 per cent of confirmed cases this year.
Prevention
Lassa fever can be prevented through a combination of personal and environmental hygiene, community education and infection control practices.
The director-general of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, emphasised the importance of personal and environmental hygiene. He urged Nigerians to block holes that could allow rodents into homes, store food in sealed containers and avoid drying food on the ground where contamination is likely.
“Cover your waste bins and dispose waste properly. Safely store food items such as rice, garri, beans and maize in well-covered containers. Communities should also set up dump sites far from residential areas to reduce rodent infestations.
“Eliminate rats in homes and communities by using rat traps and other appropriate and safe means,” he advised.
Government’s Efforts
To curb the spread of the disease, the NCDC activated its multi-sectoral Incident Management System, working alongside government agencies and development partners. This strategy aims to strengthen surveillance, enhance case management, and promote public awareness about preventive measures.
Last year, the minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, disclosed the federal government’s steps toward the development of a Lassa fever vaccine in the country, with a dedicated national task force already in place to drive the initiative.
Prof Pate revealed that in November 2024, the government inaugurated a task force chaired by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to begin groundwork for Lassa fever vaccine development.
“The next step is to develop protocols for conducting studies to understand the epidemiology of Lassa fever in Nigeria. What we are working toward is to ensure that when these vaccines are fully developed, they are manufactured locally, proven safe and effective, and deployed within the country,” the minister said.
Prof Pate emphasised that the task force was actively working to lay the foundation for future vaccination campaigns that could help prevent the annual toll the virus takes on lives, including frontline health workers.
“Our goal is to reach a point where no Nigerian has to lose their life or health to Lassa fever, especially our dedicated health workers. The work we’re doing now is crucial for a safer future where we can protect our people through vaccination,” he said.
Experts’ Views And Recommendations
While Nigeria continues to battle recurrent outbreaks, experts and stakeholders have called for more sustainable interventions. Advanced research, increased government commitment and stronger international collaborations are needed to improve prevention and control strategies, they said.
An Associate Professor of Infectious Disease and Genomics at the Department of Microbiology, Adeleke University, Dr Kolawole Oladipo, emphasised the need for sustained investment in diagnostics, community engagement, and health system strengthening to effectively tackle Lassa fever in the country. He noted that local research leadership must be central to this effort.
According to Dr Kolawole, integrating technology with traditional knowledge and enforcing relevant health policies could help Nigeria shift from repeated outbreaks to long-term control and eventual elimination of the disease.
He told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the country must adopt a multi-sectoral, science-driven and community-centered approach to address prevention, detection, treatment and health system resilience.
“We should leverage local health and biomedical influencers, radio drama and social media platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp to deliver culturally appropriate messages. Training community volunteers such as village health workers to educate people about the dangers of bush burning, unsafe food storage and harmful burial practices is also critical,” he said.
Dr Kolawole further urged increased support for local vaccine development, highlighting the work of institutions like the Helix Biogen Institute and ACEGID, among others, leading efforts in this field.
Addressing environmental factors that increase vulnerability to the virus, a public health expert, Dr Ozy Okonokhua explained that “rodents, the primary carriers of Lassa fever, thrive in dirty and unhygienic environments. Maintaining clean surroundings and properly covering food are essential steps to breaking the chain of transmission.”
Dr Okonokhua also raised concerns about the urban bias in current awareness campaigns, noting that rural communities where Lassa fever often hits hardest are frequently left out.
“Many rural residents dry their grains in the open, leaving them exposed to rodent contamination. Without practical alternatives for food preservation, awareness alone will not suffice,” he said.
He called for the active involvement of traditional rulers and religious leaders in spreading health information in local languages to ensure better reach and understanding across communities.
With the dual threat of environmental exposure and human-to-human transmission, controlling Lassa fever requires a community-wide commitment to sanitation, awareness and early medical intervention.
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