By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Due to the ongoing outbreak of Lassa fever in parts of the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) deployed its Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa States for an initial two-week period between January and March 2025, it has emerged
The agency said as part of its response strategy and due to the evolving nature of the outbreak, the deployments in Edo and Taraba were extended by 10 and 7 days, respectively.
Director General (DG) of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, said RRTs’ deployment became necessary following the identification of 3,465 suspected Lassa fever cases across 91 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 States during the period.
Out of the cases, he said 645 were confirmed, while tragically 118 died, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3%.
In a statement by NCDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Datti, the DG revealed that healthcare workers have also been affected with 20 infections recorded with 8 in Ondo, 4 in Bauchi, 1 in Edo, 2 in Taraba, 1 in Ebonyi, 2 in Gombe, 1 in Benue, and 1 in Ogun States.
Given this tragic development, he said to enhance outbreak response and control, the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre (LF-EOC) had been activated at Response Level 2.
The move, according to him, was to strengthen coordination among key stakeholders, including Federal, States, and Local governments, as well as development partners, he noted.
He said the NCDC has supplied affected States with critical medical resources, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) while treatment medications with State-specific advisories have also been issued to aid in Lassa fever prevention and control efforts.
He, however, listed several challenges that have continued to hinder containment efforts, such as inadequate surveillance at the community level, limited human and financial resources for case management, contact tracing, and early detection.
He lamented that treatment centers are also grappling with staff shortages, while delays in seeking medical attention, often due to self-medication and reliance on traditional remedies, have further complicated the situation.
He urged individuals with suspected Lassa fever symptoms to seek medical attention promptly to improve treatment outcomes while calling on State governments to assist in covering treatment costs for Lassa fever and similar diseases.
He also emphasised the importance of private sector involvement in ensuring the availability of medical supplies and raising public health awareness.
While stressing that controlling the spread of Lassa fever requires collective responsibility, Idris assured that the NCDC and State governments are at the forefront of response efforts and every Nigerian must take proactive steps to reduce transmission.
He also reinforced the need for healthcare workers to adhere strictly to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures while maintaining a high level of vigilance for Lassa fever cases.
The agency urged the public to prioritize environmental hygiene by taking measures to prevent rodent infestations in homes, food storage areas, and utensils, one of the most effective ways to curb the spread of the disease.