Abuja: Lassa fever has resulted in the deaths of 118 people in Nigeria during the first three months of the year, according to the country’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The rodent-borne virus, first identified in 1969 in Borno State, continues to pose a significant health threat, particularly in rural areas where poor sanitation allows rats to contaminate food supplies.
Despite ongoing public awareness campaigns on preventive measures, limited improvements in hygiene standards have hindered efforts to curb the disease. In the period from January to March, Nigerian health authorities confirmed 645 cases of Lassa fever, with a fatality rate of 18.3%, NCDC Director General Jide Idris announced on Monday.
Nigeria has consistently recorded around 100 deaths per quarter due to the disease. Among the latest cases, more than 20 healthcare workers have been infected in five of the 33 affected states. Idris highlighted critical staffing shortages at treatment centers and noted that many patients delay seeking medical help, opting instead for self-medication and unproven alternative treatments.
Health officials continue to urge the public to adopt better sanitation practices and seek immediate medical attention at designated treatment centers to reduce fatalities and contain the spread of the virus.
