NCDC CONFIRMS MORE LASSA FEVER DEATHS

Lassa fever is surging again 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.

In its latest Situation Report, the NCDC said eight new confirmed cases were recorded in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Nasarawa states, representing a slight rise from six cases reported in the previous week.

It said that so far in 2025, Nigeria has reported 747 confirmed cases and 142 deaths, marking a case fatality rate of 19 per cent.

Meanwhile, public health experts have noted that the rise in cases signals a need for more grassroots surveillance and environmental hygiene education.

The NCDC said it has deployed rapid response teams, launched community sensitisation campaigns, and activated an e-learning platform to train health workers on infection prevention and control.

Speaking on the resurgence, a public health expert, Dr Solomon Chollom, noted that the rise in cases signals a need for more grassroots surveillance and environmental hygiene education.

He said that Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness, is endemic in Nigeria and typically spikes during the dry season.

“However, the year-round transmission pattern seen in recent years suggests a shift in the disease’s behaviour, likely linked to urbanisation, climate factors, and persistent gaps in sanitation,” he said.

The agency also noted that young adults between 21 and 30 years remain the most affected age group, indicating the need for targeted public education in schools, marketplaces, and workplaces.

In response, experts urged  state governments and local councils to invest in waste disposal systems, community health surveillance, and early case reporting mechanisms.