Treat Lassa As Public Health Emergency

A renowned virologist and former vice-chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, has warned that Lassa fever would continue to devastate communities unless it is recognised as a major public health emergency in Nigeria.

Prof. Tomori, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, criticised the country’s approach to the disease, stating that it had never been treated with the seriousness it deserves.

“Indeed, we have been toying with Lassa fever, never having considered it a major public health issue. Until we do so, it will continue to rage and ravage our communities,” he said.

He emphasised the need for increased awareness and practical, step-by-step information on the disease’s transmission, symptoms, prevention and protective measures.

Tomori stressed that simply telling people to avoid bush meat is not an effective strategy. Instead, he called for a more comprehensive public engagement approach.

The virologist also highlighted the country’s weak diagnostic capacity, revealing that the country’s laboratory system can only confirm about 10 per cent of reported Lassa fever cases.

“We remain ignorant about the diagnosis of 90 per cent of suspected Lassa fever cases. Therefore, we must seriously overhaul our laboratory diagnostic system,” he warned.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) epidemiological report for Week 10 (February showed that the country has recorded 563 confirmed Lassa fever cases out of the 2,960 suspected cases and 103 deaths as of March 9, 2025.

According to NCDC, the disease has spread to 14 states and 78 local government areas with a Case Fatality Ratio of 18.3 per cent.

The confirmed cases were reported in Ondo (175), Bauchi (139), Edo (98), Taraba (84), Ebonyi (17), Kogi (15), Gombe (11), Plateau (10), Benue (five), Nasarawa (three), Delta (two), Cross-River (two), Enugu (one), and Anambra (one).

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is primarily transmitted through contact with the urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.

According to NCDC, Lassa fever can also spread from person to person through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual, especially in healthcare settings with inadequate infection control measures.

The centre said early symptoms of Lassa fever are similar to those of malaria and include fever, headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diaorrhea, and muscle pain. In severe cases, the disease can lead to internal bleeding, organ failure, and death.

It listed those at higher risk as individuals living in rat-infested areas, those consuming contaminated food or water, healthcare workers without adequate infection prevention measures, and people who handle rodents for consumption.

NCDC has, therefore, urged Nigerians to take proactive measures in preventing Lassa fever, stressing that it is a shared responsibility.