In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, 190 people have died this year from Lassa fever, a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans.
Jide Idris, Director of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), confirmed a worrying rise in both cases and fatalities nationwide.
According to Idris, 9,492 suspected Lassa fever cases have been reported this year, with 1,154 testing positive. The outbreak has claimed 190 lives, and the fatality rate remains alarmingly high.
In response, the Nigerian government has designated three drugs for treatment.
Lassa fever was first identified in Nigeria in 1969 in the northeastern Borno State. The disease is spread through contact with rat droppings, can be transmitted person-to-person, and causes severe hemorrhagic fever, often fatal.
Health authorities are urging Nigerians to avoid contact with rodents and other pests to help prevent the further spread of the disease.