NCDC Highlights Delayed Treatment And Poor Sanitation As Key Drivers Of Rising Lassa Fever Deaths.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised concerns over the rising fatalities caused by Lassa fever, attributing the trend to delayed hospital visits, high treatment costs, and poor environmental sanitation.
In its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 8, 2025, the agency confirmed 95 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.8 per cent, warning that late presentation at healthcare facilities significantly reduces patients’ chances of survival.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease, is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodent excreta or human-to-human transmission. The latest outbreak has been confirmed in 12 states and 70 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo States accounting for 73 per cent of cases.
Despite ongoing awareness campaigns, many Nigerians remain unaware of the disease’s early symptoms, often mistaking them for malaria or typhoid. This leads to self-medication and delays in seeking medical attention, allowing complications such as organ failure, bleeding, and shock to set in before treatment is sought.
The NCDC also identified poor environmental sanitation as a key factor in the continued spread of the disease. Many high-burden communities lack effective waste management systems, leading to rodent infestations that increase transmission risks.
The agency has urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as:
– Storing food in rodent-proof containers
– Keeping homes and surroundings clean
– Avoiding bush burning, which drives rodents into residential areas
In response to the outbreak, the government and partner organisations have intensified efforts by deploying rapid response teams to affected states and increasing disease surveillance.
However, Dr Gabriel Adakole, a public health expert, highlighted the high cost of treatment as a major challenge. He noted that Ribavirin, the antiviral drug used to treat Lassa fever, remains expensive, making comprehensive medical care unaffordable for many patients.
“In some cases, families abandon treatment due to financial constraints,” Adakole stated. “The high cost of hospitalisation and medications discourages people from seeking early care. More state government intervention is needed to subsidise treatment and make it accessible to vulnerable populations.”
He further stressed that community awareness and improved healthcare access are essential in reducing Lassa fever fatalities.
“A multi-sectoral approach that combines early detection, public health campaigns, and government intervention is needed. Without this, Lassa fever will continue to claim lives unnecessarily,” he warned.
As Nigeria battles another Lassa fever outbreak, health experts are calling for urgent intervention to strengthen disease prevention, ensure affordable treatment, and improve public health infrastructure to curb further fatalities.
