Lassa Fever
Lassa fever is surging across Nigeria, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirming a higher death rate and more infections despite ongoing public health interventions.
According to the NCDC’s latest Situation Report, the country has recorded 747 confirmed cases and 142 deaths in 2025, representing a case fatality rate of 19.0%.
The disease has spread across 18 states and 96 local government areas, with five states – Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi – accounting for a staggering 91% of all confirmed infections.
*Expert Insights*
Public health expert Dr. Solomon Chollom notes that the rise in cases signals a need for more grassroots surveillance and environmental hygiene education. “We can’t fight Lassa with hospital efforts alone.
The communities must be empowered to understand how this disease spreads, mainly through contact with rodent urine or faeces and what they can do to prevent it,” Chollom said.
He added that Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness, is endemic in Nigeria and typically spikes during the dry season, but the year-round transmission pattern seen in recent years suggests a shift in the disease’s behaviour.
Despite intensified response efforts, including rapid response teams and community sensitisation campaigns, challenges persist.
The expert urged state governments and local councils to invest in waste disposal systems, community health surveillance, and early case reporting mechanisms.
The NCDC has deployed various strategies to combat the outbreak, including activating an e-learning platform to train health workers on infection prevention and control.
The expert emphasized the need for collective, coordinated action to address Nigeria’s fragile health security infrastructure.
