Lassa Fever: Ending ‘Annual Health Crisis Marathon’ in Nigeria

lassa fever

In yet another episode of Nigeria’s ‘Annual Health Crisis Marathon’, Lassa fever is back with 143 confirmed cases and 22 deaths across seven states in just two weeks, a grim reminder that when it comes to preventable outbreaks, we are still running in circles.

Development Diaries reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recently announced in its latest situation report published on its website that one health care worker was affected in the reporting week two, during which new confirmed cases increased from 54 in week one of 2025 to 89.

If this development were a play, it would be titled A Tale of Preventable Catastrophe with the usual cast: overwhelmed health care workers, underfunded facilities, and indifferent authorities.

In 2024, 35 health care workers were infected while on duty, a stark reminder that ‘frontline’ sometimes feels synonymous with ‘sacrificial’.

While the NCDC proudly notes a marginal decrease in the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) from 16.4 percent in 2024 to 15.4 percent this year, one wonders if that is cause for celebration or a grim illustration of how low the bar has been set.

Deaths are deaths, and 15 out of every 100 infected persons still lose their lives. This is no victory lap.

The disease continues to disproportionately target young adults aged 21 to 30, a demographic that should be building Nigeria’s future, not succumbing to it.

The hotbeds of this outbreak are unsurprisingly familiar: Ondo (38 percent), Edo (22 percent), and Bauchi (17 percent). These three states alone account for a whopping 77 percent of all confirmed cases, suggesting that lessons from previous outbreaks are being archived rather than actioned.

But let’s not be too harsh. After all, the NCDC has activated its multi-partner, multi-sectoral incident management system.

Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic viral disease primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or feces. In other words, our national epidemic is fueled by preventable filth and systemic neglect.

Development Diaries calls on the NCDC to coordinate with local governments to prioritise awareness campaigns in high-burden communities. The agency should ensure that health care workers get adequate protective gear.

For the federal and state ministries of health, enough with the reactive firefighting. They need to invest in preventive measures like rodent control programmes, improved sanitation infrastructure, and consistent public health education campaigns. Prevention is cheaper than treating the aftermath, isn’t it?

Finally, and this is for every citizen, take hygiene seriously. Clean your environment, store food properly, and seek medical attention at the first sign of symptoms.

Photo source: CDC

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