At least 118 people have died from Lassa fever in Nigeria since the beginning of the year, the country’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said Sunday.
In a statement, the NCDC reported 3,465 suspected cases across 33 states, with 645 confirmed through laboratory testing.
Lassa fever, an acute viral illness endemic to Nigeria, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected rodents. Despite years of public health campaigns, poor environmental hygiene in rural areas continues to allow rats access to homes, food, and utensils, exacerbating the spread of the disease.
In response, the NCDC said it has deployed Rapid Response Teams to 10 states and urged state governments and the private sector to intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.
Symptoms of Lassa fever include flu-like signs, sore throat, muscle pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, the disease can cause facial swelling, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and bleeding from the mouth, nose, and other body parts.
While early supportive care, including rehydration and symptom management, improves survival chances, Lassa fever can be fatal. However, most infected individuals make a full recovery, health officials said.