Daijiworld Media Network- Abuja

Abuja, Apr 16: The death toll in Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak has climbed to 127, with 674 confirmed infections from a pool of 4,025 suspected cases since the outbreak began in January 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, 18 out of 36 states have reported cases, with the southern states of Ondo and Edo, along with northern Bauchi, accounting for over 70% of the confirmed cases.

The NCDC reported a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.8%, which is slightly higher than the 18.5% recorded during the same time last year. The affected demographic mainly includes young adults between 21 and 30, with a median age of 30. More males than females have been infected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.

Despite concerted efforts, public health authorities face several challenges including:

• Poor health-seeking behaviour in rural areas

• High cost of treatment in certain regions

• Limited awareness in high-burden communities

To tackle the crisis, the NCDC has activated a multi-sectoral incident management system to lead and coordinate national response strategies.

Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, is caused by the Lassa virus, commonly transmitted to humans via contact with food or items contaminated by the urine or faeces of Mastomys rats. The virus is endemic in rodent populations in West Africa and can also spread person-to-person, especially in healthcare settings lacking proper infection control.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that:

• Around 80% of infected people show no symptoms

• About 1 in 5 cases become severe, affecting organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys

• Hospitalised patients with severe Lassa fever face a 15% case fatality rate

In 2024, Nigeria reported 214 deaths due to Lassa fever, underlining the recurring threat the disease poses in the region.

Authorities continue to urge early diagnosis and supportive care, which can significantly improve survival outcomes in severe cases.