The Nigerian health authorities are racing to contain the spread of Lassa Fever after a 31-year-old doctor who returned from the United Kingdom succumbed to the disease. The doctor, who recently arrived in the country, was treated at a private facility in Ondo State before his death on March 1. This has raised concern, prompting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to place 357 suspected cases under surveillance. Data from the Centres for Disease Control shows that as of March 2, 535 individuals have been diagnosed with the virus out of 2,728 suspected cases.
Furthermore, the infection has now spread across 13 states and 75 local government areas, leading to the deaths of over 100 people. With a case fatality rate of 18.7 percent, the outbreak is only marginally less severe than the previous year’s figures. The deceased physician, before his hospitalisation, had traveled to Edo State to visit his fiancée and other relatives. This movement has heightened fears that he may have unknowingly exposed others to the virus. Authorities are now working to track and monitor all those who had contact with him to prevent further transmission.
How does Lassa fever spread, and who is most at risk?
Lassa fever is caused by the Lassa virus, which is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. The multimammate rat, common in West Africa, is the primary carrier of the virus. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through exposure to the bodily fluids of infected individuals, making healthcare workers particularly vulnerable. Symptoms typically begin with fever, fatigue, and headaches before progressing to more severe complications such as organ failure.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while 80 percent of infected individuals experience mild or no symptoms, one in five cases can lead to severe complications affecting vital organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Despite ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak, it remains a significant Public Health challenge in Nigeria. The NCDC’s latest report for Week 9 of 2025 indicates that new confirmed suspects have decreased from 54 in the previous week to 29. However, the disease remains widespread, with new incidents emerging from Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Cross River, Nasarawa, and Enugu states.
Healthcare workers on the frontline at high risk.
Further research has identified that 72 percent of all confirmed contacts originate from just three states: Ondo (31 percent), Bauchi (24 percent), and Edo (17 percent). While infections have been recorded in individuals aged 1 to 94, young adults between 21 and 30 appear to be the most affected. The male-to-female infection ratio is 1:0.8. The outbreak has affected healthcare workers, with 17 reported cases among medical personnel in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Gombe. Doctors and nurses remain among the most vulnerable groups due to their close contact with patients.
To mitigate risks, the NCDC emphasises strict infection control measures, including personal protective equipment, proper hand hygiene, and enhanced safety protocols in laboratories and hospitals handling Lassa fever cases. On the other hand, laboratory workers are also threatened, as handling patient samples requires strict containment protocols. The virus’s ability to spread through contaminated surfaces, bedding, and clothing further complicates control efforts. Therefore, authorities are urging medical personnel to exercise extreme caution while managing suspected cases.
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Effective rodent control and community awareness are key to reducing Lassa fever transmission. The NCDC has emphasised proper food storage, ensuring grains and other perishables are kept in rodent-proof containers. Maintaining clean households and safely disposing of waste far from residential areas can also help limit rodent infestation. Cooking food thoroughly and avoiding direct contact with rats or their droppings are critical preventive measures. However, eliminating the multimammate rat from the environment is nearly impossible, making early detection and rapid response crucial to minimising fatalities.