Amid a spike in Lassa fever cases, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its emergency operations centre.
The centre’s director-general, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa expressed the urgency of the situation in a statement released on Thursday, highlighting a worrisome increase in confirmed cases, fatalities, and geographic spread from 2023 to 2024.
Adetifa revealed, “The latest situation report shows that total confirmed cases increased from 29 in 2023 to 53 in 2024, with fatalities ranging from 8 to 6. The case fatality rate ranged from 27.6 per cent in 2023 to 11.3 per cent this year, covering 6 states in 2023 to 9 states in 2024 and spanning 13 to 25 LGAs in the country.”
The NCDC has classified Lassa fever as “high-risk” and is swiftly coordinating a national response to mitigate the impact of this infectious disease. Adetifa informed that the national Lassa fever technical working group has been activated following a risk assessment conducted by subject matter experts from relevant ministries, departments, agencies, and stakeholders, including major partners.
The risk assessment identified a “high risk” of increased Lassa fever transmission and impact due to an increased number of states reporting cases and high case fatality. Adetifa stated, “The zones impacted with Lassa fever have been increasing across the country, with a risk of international exposure”.
The activation of the Lassa fever emergency operations center aims to coordinate a national response, particularly across affected states, to minimise suffering, reduce mortality, interrupt disease transmission and address socioeconomic complications using a one-health approach.
Adetifa emphasised that the national response requires the collaboration of both the government and the public, along with the support of partners and other stakeholders. He urged the public to prioritise personal, environmental, and food hygiene, as early detection and prompt presentation at health facilities significantly increase survival chances.
In 2023, Nigeria reported 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 17.9 per cent, spanning 28 states and 124 local government areas. The activation of the emergency operations centre reflects the commitment to tackle the surge in Lassa fever cases head-on and prevent further escalation.
