Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats, is gradually on the increase in some states in Nigeria.
States affected include Edo, Ondo, Benue, Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Taraba.
According to the NCDC week 9 report from February 24 to March 2nd 2025, new suspected cases decreased from
54 in week 8 to 29.
With the recent development, the Director Public Health, Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Stephenson Ojiefoh, emphasized that the government is not only working to curb the spread of Lassa fever but is also focusing on eliminating its carrier, the mastomys rat.
Dr. Ojiefoh explained that suspected Lassa fever cases are promptly tested, with samples sent to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo Central and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo South for confirmation.
He urged Residents to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of prolonged fever, as testing and treatment for Lassa fever are free while he warned that private hospitals or clinicians to desist from managing Lassa fever cases instead they refer cases to accredited facility in Irrua.
Meanwhile, Etsako West, Esan North-East, and Esan West were identified as the most affected local government areas in the state
