Lassa Fever: Nigeria Records 1,035 Cases, 174 Deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that the country has recorded 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, and 174 deaths across 28 states and 129 local government areas (LGAs).

Director-general of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Tuesday at a press briefing in Abuja.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) caused by the Lassa virus. The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat), but other rodents can also act as carriers of the virus.

Dr Jide said, “In 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 LGAs. In 2023, 28 states and 114 LGAs reported confirmed cases, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths. As of October 13, 2024, 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases, and 174 deaths have been reported across 28 states and 129 LGAs.”

He emphasised that the steady increase in states reporting Lassa fever cases is partly due to improved surveillance, better community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change, and other harmful human activities.