NCDC Strengthens Response To Lassa Fever Outbreak Across Nigeria.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has intensified efforts to combat the Lassa fever outbreak, which has resulted in 3,465 suspected cases, 645 confirmed infections, and 118 deaths across 91 Local Government Areas in 33 states between January and March 2025.
The fatality rate of 18.3% underscores the severity of the outbreak, with 20 healthcare workers among those infected across eight states. In response, the NCDC has activated the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre (LF-EOC) at Response Level to enhance coordination among all stakeholders, including federal and state authorities, local governments, and development partners.
Dr Jide Idris, the Director General of the NCDC, highlighted the deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to 10 states—Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa—to strengthen outbreak control. Due to the evolving situation, additional support was provided to Edo and Taraba, extending deployments by 10 and seven days, respectively.
To support affected states, the NCDC has distributed essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPEs) and treatment medications. Furthermore, state-specific advisories have been issued to guide prevention and control measures.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain, including manpower shortages in treatment centres, weak community-level surveillance, and limited resources for patient care and contact tracing. Dr Idris urged individuals displaying symptoms of Lassa fever to seek immediate medical attention to improve survival rates.
He also called on state governments to subsidise treatment costs and encouraged the private sector to play a greater role in funding medical supplies and public health awareness initiatives. Additionally, he emphasised the need for healthcare workers to adhere strictly to infection prevention and control measures.
Dr Idris reminded Nigerians that preventing Lassa fever requires collective action. He stressed the importance of environmental hygiene and rat control, urging citizens to take necessary precautions to limit the spread of the virus.
With a coordinated response and proactive measures, the NCDC remains committed to containing the outbreak and protecting public health across the country.
