NCDC Urges Timely Care as 118 Die of Lassa Fever in Three months

NCDC Urges Timely Care as 118 Die of Lassa Fever in Three months

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has urged the public on the need for timely care and communal efforts in the fight against Lassa Fever which has claimed 118 lives from January 2025 to March.

This was contained in a statement issued over the weekend by NCDC and signed by Head Corporate Communication, Sani Datti, in Abuja.

According to the statement, Nigeria recorded 3,465 suspected cases of the disease across 91 Local Government Areas in 33 states.

Out of the above figure, 645 cases were confirmed while 118 lives were lost, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3%.

“Unfortunately, 20 healthcare workers have been infected: 8 in Ondo, 4 in Bauchi, 1 in Edo, 2 in Taraba, 1 in Ebonyi, 2 in Gombe, 1 in Benue, and 1 in Ogun states,” Datti said.

The statement further noted that in line with the Agency’s commitment to an effective response, it has deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to 10 states Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa for a period of two weeks between January and March 2025.

As a result of the evolving nature of the outbreak in some areas, deployments in Edo and Taraba were extended by an additional 10 and 7 days respectively.

“The Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said in an effort to respond and strengthen outbreak control, the agency has activated the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre (LF-EOC) at Response Level 2.

“This activation allows for improved coordination across all the stakeholders (Federal, States, Local Government, Developmental partners and others). Moreover, the agency has distributed essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPEs) and treatment medications, to affected states.

“Also, targeted, state-specific advisories have been issued to guide the prevention and control of Lassa fever. Despite these efforts, several challenges have hindered response efforts:

“These include weak community-level surveillance which impedes early detection, and inadequate human and financial resources for treatment, contact tracing, and active case search at both state and community levels.

“Furthermore, treatment centers are experiencing manpower shortages, and many patients, delay seeking care often resorting to self-medication and unorthodox practices, which ultimately prove ineffective,” Datti stated.

He therefore advised individuals suspected of having Lassa fever to seek medical care immediately for the best outcomes,

The DG appealed to state governments to support the cost of treatment for Lassa fever and similar diseases.

In addition, he emphasized the critical role of the private sector in ensuring the provision of essential medical supplies and in supporting the public on health awareness initiatives.

He added that preventing Lassa fever requires collective action. Whilst the NCDC and State governments are leading the response, every Nigerian has a role to play in reducing the spread of the virus.

The agency reiterates the importance of healthcare workers consistently applying infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and maintaining a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever.

“Finally, NCDC urges the citizens to be on top of their environmental hygiene practices and skills that prevent rats from accessing homes, food, and utensils. These remain the most effective means of prevention,” the statement said.