Nigeria has declared an emergency in response to a Lassa fever outbreak that has resulted in 190 deaths and 1,154 infections across six states, the country’s disease control agency announced on Monday.
Jide Idris, head of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said the agency’s risk assessment classified the outbreak as high, prompting the activation of its Emergency Operations Centre to oversee efforts to control the spread of the virus.
“Although Lassa fever occurs year-round, its transmission peaks between October and May, during the dry season, when contact with rodents increases,” Idris explained during a press briefing in Abuja.
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or droppings. It can also spread between people via bodily fluids. Symptoms include fever, headaches, and in severe cases, can be fatal.
The World Health Organization has flagged Lassa fever as a priority disease due to its potential to cause epidemics and the lack of an approved vaccine.
The emergency centre will coordinate the response, aiming for a more efficient containment of the outbreak as cases continue to rise.
