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THE U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) says Lassa fever continues to claim one in every four infected persons in affected communities in Nigeria.
The U.S-CDC said this is in spite of the availability of effective treatment when cases are detected early.
Dr Banji Ipadeola, Team Lead, Epidemiology Surveillance, Division of Global Health Protection at the Global Health Centre, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Ipadeola, delayed diagnosis and treatment remain major factors driving deaths from the viral haemorrhagic disease.
“Lassa fever is real and people die from Lassa fever. In fact, this year alone, one in every four cases of Lassa fever has died,” he said.
He, however, said that Lassa fever could be successfully treated when patients sought edical attention early.
He said many Nigerians often mistook the symptoms of the disease for malaria or typhoid fever, resulting to delays in accessing appropriate care.
“The early symptoms are fever, headache and body pains. These symptoms are similar to those of malaria and other common illnesses, making diagnosis difficult without proper testing.
“That is why people should visit healthcare facilities promptly when they experience such symptoms instead of self-medicating,” he said.
According to him, early diagnosis significantly improves survival rates, as patients who receive timely treatment have a much higher chance of recovery.
He said that Lassa fever was primarily transmitted through exposure to food, household items or surfaces contaminated with the urine or droppings of infected rodents.
He said that transmission could also occur from person to person through contact with the blood, saliva, urine or other bodily fluids of infected individuals.
The epidemiologist said that healthcare workers, caregivers and family members caring for infected persons remained at heightened risk when infection prevention and control measures are not strictly observed.
He identified frequent human contact with rodents as one of the major drivers of transmission in Nigeria.
“People living in environments where rats are common are at greater risk. Some people who consume rats may also be at increased risk.
“Once you remove rats from the environment, you are likely to reduce the spread of Lassa fever,” he said.
Lassa fever can also result in long-term complications among survivors, particularly hearing impairment, which public health experts identify as one of the most significant consequences of the disease.
The condition has been documented among survivors of both mild and severe infections, underscoring the importance of prevention and early treatment.
The expert also said that Lassa fever posed serious risks to pregnant women, often resulting in miscarriage, stillbirth and other pregnancy-related complications.
He said preventing infections among pregnant women remained critical because of the devastating consequences for both mothers and unborn children.
On prevention, he urged households to store food in sealed containers, maintain proper environmental sanitation and eliminate conditions that encourage rodent infestation.
He advised residents to seal holes and openings in homes that may allow rats to access food and living spaces.
The epidemiologist also discouraged the open drying of food items, noting that such practices expose food to contamination by infected rodents.
In healthcare settings, he called for strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including regular hand hygiene and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.
He urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion when attending to patients presenting with fever and other symptoms associated with infectious diseases.
According to him, there is currently no approved vaccine for Lassa fever, although global efforts are ongoing to develop safe and effective vaccines.
He said that prevention, early diagnosis and prompt treatment remained the most effective tools for reducing infections and deaths.
He commended the Nigerian government for strengthening preparedness and response efforts through emergency operations centres, surveillance systems and public awareness campaigns.
He called on governments, healthcare workers and communities to sustain collaborative efforts to reduce transmission and mitigate the burden of the disease.
“Lassa fever occurs every year, so preparedness must remain high. Communities must remain vigilant and seek medical care early whenever symptoms develop,” he said.
His remarks align with the latest figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC figures show that as of Epidemiological Week 23 (June 1–7, 2026), Nigeria had recorded 855 confirmed cases and 214 deaths, representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 25.0 per cent.
The centre said that the fatality rate was higher than the 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025, highlighting the continued severity of the disease despite ongoing response efforts.
According to the NCDC, young adults aged 21 to 30 years remain the most affected age group in the current outbreak.
NAN reports that 23 states have recorded at least one confirmed Lassa fever case across 109 Local Government Areas in 2026.
The NCDC said that Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo states account for 84 per cent of all confirmed infections reported so far this year.
The agency also reported that no new healthcare worker infection was recorded during Epidemiological Week 23, reflecting improvements in infection prevention and control practices within health facilities.
Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and occurs throughout the year, with seasonal peaks often recorded during the dry season.
Public health experts continue to highlight the importance of community awareness, environmental hygiene, rodent control, early healthcare-seeking behaviour and strengthened surveillance to reduce deaths from the disease.(NAN)
W.U
June 24, 2026
Tags: Dr Banji Ipadeola