By ABUJAH RACHEAL, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
As Nigeria approaches the dry months, the nation faces a heightened risk of Lassa fever outbreak, a recurring challenge that peaks between November and March.
The multimammate rats, the primary carriers of the virus, driven by food scarcity, seek food closer to human habitation.
More so, poor housing, inadequate sanitation, and the absence of rodent-proof food storage keep many communities vulnerable.
Climate change has also distorted rodent habitats and intensified transmission risks.
Lassa fever remains endemic in Nigeria, expanding its footprint every year.
Available data indicates that between 2018 and 2023, confirmed cases were recorded in 34 of the country’s 36 states and the FCT, with Edo, Ondo, and Taraba consistently among the worst-hit.
As the harmattan wind settles over rural communities in Ondo State, Kike Adebayo, a nurse, triple-checks the stock of gloves, masks, and disinfectants in her small isolation ward.
It is that time of the year again, when every fever could be Lassa.
The memories of last season still haunt her: a pregnant woman who did not make it, a colleague who fell ill, and the fear that grips everyone when a patient’s temperature refuses to drop.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Nigeria recorded 10,098 suspected cases, 1,309 confirmed infections and 214 deaths from Lassa fever in 2024, representing a case fatality rate (CFR) of 16.4 per cent.
New data suggests the burden could worsen.
In its Week 40 Situation Report (Sept. 29–Oct. 5 2025), the NCDC said 172 deaths had been recorded across 21 states, with a CFR of 18.6 per cent, higher than the 17 per cent reported in the same period of 2024.
It reported 924 confirmed and 8,041 suspected cases from 106 Local Government Areas.
Five states–Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi– accounted for 90 per cent of confirmed infections, with Ondo alone responsible for 35 per cent.
Cases rose from four in Week 39 to 13 in Week 40, all in Ondo State.
People aged 21 to 30 years were most affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
No new healthcare worker infection was recorded during the week.
The NCDC attributed rising deaths to late presentation and poor health-seeking behaviour, worsened by limited access to early diagnosis.
Residents in rural communities often mistake early symptoms for malaria or typhoid, losing precious treatment time.
Dr Gabriel Adakole, a public health expert, said Nigeria cautioned against delays in diagnosis.
“Many patients arrive late because they are first treated for malaria or typhoid; that loss of time is deadly.”
Adakole described Nigeria’s preparedness as fragile.
“Shortages of test kits remain a pressing concern. Some laboratories take days to confirm suspected cases, forcing clinicians to rely on guesswork.”
He also expressed worry over the delayed unveiling of the National Lassa Fever Strategic Plan, originally scheduled for December 2024.
“We need the plan operational now; states are working without an updated framework,” he said.
A senior epidemiologist in Edo, who requested anonymity, echoed the concerns.
“We are working in the dark without updated guidance; without a functional plan and enough test kits, it is difficult to break the cycle of reactionary response every dry season,” the official said.
Responding to growing concerns, the NCDC said it had activated a multi-sectoral Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate surveillance, case management, and risk communication.
It is working with partners including WHO, UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières to speed up testing and improve data exchange.
The agency said 10 national rapid response teams had been deployed to affected states using a One Health approach.
It said ongoing interventions included the training of healthcare workers, intensified risk communication campaigns, and the distribution of Ribavirin, personal protective equipment, and thermometers to treatment centres to improve case management.
It added that environmental sanitation campaigns were underway in high-burden communities, alongside support for the INTEGRATE clinical trial currently taking place in Ondo State.
Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of NCDC, said the agency was strengthening systems to move from emergency reaction to sustained readiness.
“We are scaling up laboratories, expanding awareness campaigns, and improving coordination with states, to reduce transmission and deaths.’’
He said that community engagement remained crucial, especially in rural areas where food storage and hygiene practices increased risk.
“Civil society organisations and volunteers play a key role in reaching households early,” he said.
In Ondo State, a community health volunteer, Ms Ramat Babalola, visits markets and schools in the evenings to share prevention tips.
“People know about Lassa fever, but many do not take it seriously until someone close falls sick.
“We use radio and storytelling to remind them: do not wait for symptoms to get worse before seeking care,” she said.
Health experts want infection-control supplies such as PPE prioritised in procurement cycles.
They also urged integration of Lassa fever preparedness into Nigeria’s One Health Strategy, recognising the disease’s deep links to agriculture, environment and food security.
Mrs Joy Hassan, a public health advocate, said persistent outbreaks showed that Lassa fever was more than a health issue.
“It is tied to sanitation, housing, and food security. Solving Lassa fever requires solving development challenges too,” Hassan said.
Across Nigeria, households now seal food containers more securely, while health workers brace for a surge in suspected cases; survival depends on vigilance, preparation and quick access to care.
Experts warn that Nigeria’s ability to curb Lassa fever will hinge on consistent investment in diagnostics, logistics and grassroots education.
They say unless the health system is strengthened, laboratories in high-burden states are equipped, and the national strategic plan is fully implemented, the cycle of panic and loss will continue.
Prof. Oyewale Tomori, renowned virologist and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, said Nigeria must stop acting surprised.
“We know when it comes, where it hits, and how it spreads. True preparedness means acting before, not after the outbreak,” Tomori said.
For Adebayo in Ondo, every new patient is a reminder that the clock is always ticking.
“If we had enough kits, enough gloves, and enough awareness, many would never end up in this ward; Lassa fever should not remain our dry-season reality,” she said.
Until preparedness becomes permanent, critical health analysts say each year will continue to test the resilience of the nation and its people.(NANFeatures)
