Lassa fever has gripped Nigeria, claiming 12 lives and infecting 89 individuals in just the second week of January.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed the alarming rise, with cases recorded across 13 states.
This surge brings the total number of cases in 2025 to 143, with 22 fatalities since the beginning of the year.
In 2024, Nigeria reported 1,187 confirmed cases and 191 deaths, spanning 28 states in a devastating outbreak.
The dry season, lasting from November to May, traditionally sees an uptick in Lassa fever infections, heightening concerns.
First identified in 1969 in Borno State, Lassa fever has become endemic in parts of West Africa, including Mali and Sierra Leone.
The infection spreads through contact with rat urine or feces, and through human-to-human transmission, often causing hemorrhagic fever.
A state of emergency was declared in 2019 when Lassa fever posed a severe threat to public health in Nigeria.
The NCDC advises the public to maintain strict hygiene, avoid contact with rats, and safeguard food from rodent contamination.
As Nigeria battles this persistent threat, vigilance and preventative measures remain vital to curbing the spread of the disease.
