Lassa Fever in Nigeria: 190 Deaths Since Start of Year as Outbreak Continues

Nigerian health authorities have announced that the Lassa fever death toll has climbed to 190 since the beginning of this year, underscoring the continued severity of this endemic disease in West Africa.

Lassa fever is an acute hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus and is transmitted primarily from animals to humans through exposure to rodent feces or urine, particularly rats found in rural areas and urban peripheries. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

Nigeria is among the worst-affected countries in West Africa, recording annual outbreak waves that span multiple states and place sustained pressure on the health system. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, and internal bleeding; cases can progress to death in the absence of early medical intervention. The World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) continue to closely monitor the epidemiological situation.