Lassa fever
Nigeria Recorded 118 Lassa Fever Deaths in 2024 as Outbreak Spreads – NCDC
Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that Lassa fever has claimed at least 118 lives since January, with 645 laboratory-confirmed cases out of 3,465 suspected infections across 33 states.
The acute viral disease, endemic to Nigeria, spreads primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or feces. Despite years of awareness campaigns, poor environmental hygiene in rural areas continues to allow rats to infiltrate homes, contaminating food and utensils.
To combat the outbreak, the NCDC has dispatched Rapid Response Teams to 10 high-risk states. However, the agency urged state governments and private sector stakeholders to ramp up efforts to curb further transmission.
Symptoms of Lassa fever include flu-like illness, sore throat, muscle pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases can lead to facial swelling, fluid buildup in the lungs, and bleeding from the mouth, nose, or other organs.
Early medical intervention—including rehydration and symptom management—boosts survival rates. While most patients recover fully, the disease can be fatal without prompt treatment.
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