Lassa fever kills 72 in Nigeria in six weeks

Seventy-two people died of Lassa fever across Nigeria in the first six weeks of 2024, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The deaths were recorded in 21 states and there were 411 confirmed cases across the country. Sixty-five percent of all the confirmed cases were in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, figures released by the agency show.

Lassa fever is a haemorrhagic fever that causes serious damage to various organs, reducing the body’s ability to function. The virus is contagious and can spread from person to person via bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, blood, and vomit.

Lassa fever is caused by a virus that naturally lives in rodents.

The NCDC said there were 2,122 suspected cases — far lower than 8,280 recorded in the same period a year ago. People aged between 21 and 30 were the most affected.

The agency said listed some of the challenges it faced in fighting the disease to include late presentation of the cases and poor health-seeking behaviour due to the high cost of treatment and clinical management.

Other challenges, it said, were poor environmental sanitation and poor awareness observed in high-burden communities.

Learn how to protect yourself against Lassa fever

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people can protect themselves from Lassa fever by taking precautions that include minimising exposure to rodents and their urine or faeces, sealing up holes or gaps in homes or buildings to prevent rodents from entering, washing hands frequently with soap and water, especially after touching potentially contaminated surfaces or objects.

People should also store food in sealed containers, cook food thoroughly, and avoid eating food that may have been contaminated by rodents.

If in contact with potentially infected individuals, the NCDC urged Nigerians to wear gloves, masks, goggles, and other protective equipment to prevent exposure to bodily fluids.

In areas where Lassa fever is endemic, people are advised to follow safe burial practices to minimise the risk of exposure to the virus from deceased individuals.

“If someone develops symptoms of Lassa fever, such as fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhoea, they should seek medical attention promptly.

“Early diagnosis and treatment can improve outcomes and reduce the spread of the virus to others,” said NCDC.