Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria: Suspected Cases Rise to 7,973, with 982 Confirmed
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced a significant increase in suspected Lassa fever cases, with a total of 7,973 reported across 127 Local Government Areas in 28 states between January and August 25, 2024. According to the latest data, 982 of these cases have been confirmed, with a case fatality rate of 17.1 per cent, resulting in 168 deaths, including 17 probable fatalities.
The outbreak has also affected 34 healthcare workers, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance and prompt response measures. Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, emphasized the importance of a multi-faceted approach to combat the disease. The agency has conducted several initiatives, including the 2024 National Lassa Fever After Action Review workshop, multisectoral Lassa Fever webinar series, and participation in the LF Taskforce Secretariat Meeting with CEPI.
To mitigate the outbreak, the NCDC has developed an action plan, which includes high-level advocacy to secure necessary political and financial support, as well as commitment and resources for outbreak response. The plan also involves stepping up Risk Communication and Community Engagement interventions, broadcasting key prevention messages on radio and TV stations in local languages from September, and sustaining the narrative throughout the peak season.
Furthermore, the agency will support states to conduct operational readiness one month before the outbreak season and conduct environmental sanitation and deratisation exercises in five hotspot states to reduce the rodent population to the barest minimum by October 2024. Early deployment of the National Rapid Response Team will also be crucial in supporting readiness actions and response, with surge staff, including clinicians, laboratorians, IPC specialists, and contact tracers, being deployed from October.
Dr. Idris urged Nigerians to take precautionary measures to combat the disease, underscoring the importance of collective responsibility in containing the outbreak. As the situation continues to unfold, the NCDC remains committed to providing timely updates and coordinating a comprehensive response to address the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria.
