-
20 healthcare workers infected
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Sunday that deaths from Lassa fever for the first quarter of 2025 have hit 118.
Sani Datti, Head of Corporate Communications, NCDC, in a statement, noted that during the period January to March 2025, 3,465 suspected cases of Lassa fever were recorded across 91 local government areas in 33 states.
He noted that out of this figure, 645 cases were confirmed, and 118 lives were lost, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3 per cent. Sadly, 20 healthcare workers were 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, however, said that the NCDC had deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to 10 states, namely Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa, for a period of two weeks between January and March 2025, and that deployments in Edo and Taraba were extended by 10 and 7 days, respectively, due to the evolving nature of the outbreak in the states.
Meanwhile, the Director General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, has appealed to state governments to support the cost of treatment for Lassa fever and similar diseases, also emphasising 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 stated that preventing Lassa fever requires collective action, insisting that while the NCDC and state governments are leading the response, every Nigerian has a role to play in reducing the spread of the virus.
He reiterated the importance of healthcare workers consistently applying Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures and maintaining a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever.
He urged Nigerians 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,” he stated.