Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak is becoming deadlier, with health authorities reporting 214 deaths and a sharp rise in the disease’s fatality rate. The latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) show that one in every four people with a confirmed infection has died this year, raising fresh concerns about delayed diagnosis and access to timely treatment.
Health experts say the rising fatality rate may be linked to delayed diagnosis, late presentation at health facilities, and limited access to timely treatment. Because the early symptoms such as fever, headache, weakness, sore throat, vomiting, and body pains—closely resemble those of malaria and other common illnesses, many patients often delay seeking appropriate medical care.
The dangers of delayed diagnosis were recently highlighted in Benue State, where a senior medical doctor died after contracting Lassa fever during a fresh outbreak. According to state health authorities, the doctor battled the illness for more than two weeks before testing confirmed Lassa fever. His death prompted the reactivation of contact tracing and surveillance efforts, just as Benue was preparing to declare the outbreak over. Read our full report on the Benue doctor’s death here.
Lassa fever is caused by the Lassa virus and is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or droppings of infected multimammate rats. The virus can also spread from person to person through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected individual, particularly in healthcare settings where infection prevention measures are inadequate.
The NCDC continues to advise Nigerians to keep homes and surroundings clean, store food in rodent-proof containers, dispose of waste properly, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop. Early diagnosis and treatment with appropriate antiviral medication significantly improve the chances of survival.
With the rainy season creating conditions that encourage rodent activity in many communities, public health experts are urging increased vigilance to prevent further infections and reduce the growing death toll.
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