Nigeria: Fatalities From Lassa Fever

**Authorities Must Act to Control Lassa Fever**

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports that 118 people died from Lassa fever in early 2025. This alarming statistic should concern health stakeholders.

Jide Idris, the NCDC Director General, emphasizes the need for collective action. He states, "Preventing Lassa fever requires a collective effort." While the NCDC and state governments lead the response, every Nigerian must help reduce virus spread.

Lassa fever is an acute illness caused by a virus. It has an incubation period of six to 21 days. Symptoms start gradually with fever and weakness, followed by headaches, sore throat, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding.

Diagnosing Lassa fever can be challenging due to varied symptoms. Early clinical diagnosis is often difficult. Therefore, government measures should focus on routine infection prevention and control.

Healthcare workers must avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for patients. Last year saw 190 deaths from this preventable disease. The first three months of this year show an alarming increase in fatalities.

Lassa fever has been a significant health issue in Nigeria since its discovery in 1969. Despite past efforts to contain it, outbreaks have become more frequent recently. The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes this trend to reduced surveillance and laboratory testing capacity.