The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions
Lassa fever remains a persistent public health challenge in Nigeria, with annual outbreaks expanding across the country. Between 2018 and 2023, the disease spread from 20 to 34 of Nigeria’s 37 states, underscoring its endemic nature. Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Preven...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| author | Stanley Chinedu Eneh Stanley Chinedu Eneh Stanley Chinedu Eneh Chidera Gabriel Obi Chidera Gabriel Obi Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono Zakariya’u Dauda Zakariya’u Dauda Samson Adiaetok Udoewah Samson Adiaetok Udoewah Collins Chibueze Anokwuru Collins Chibueze Anokwuru Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria Temitope Olumuyiwa Ojo Chukwuocha Uchechukwu Madukaku Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze Amara Frances Chizoba |
| author_facet | Stanley Chinedu Eneh Stanley Chinedu Eneh Stanley Chinedu Eneh Chidera Gabriel Obi Chidera Gabriel Obi Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono Zakariya’u Dauda Zakariya’u Dauda Samson Adiaetok Udoewah Samson Adiaetok Udoewah Collins Chibueze Anokwuru Collins Chibueze Anokwuru Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria Temitope Olumuyiwa Ojo Chukwuocha Uchechukwu Madukaku Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze Amara Frances Chizoba |
| author_sort | Stanley Chinedu Eneh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lassa fever remains a persistent public health challenge in Nigeria, with annual outbreaks expanding across the country. Between 2018 and 2023, the disease spread from 20 to 34 of Nigeria’s 37 states, underscoring its endemic nature. Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) indicates 1,171 suspected cases, 290 confirmed cases, and 53 deaths between January 6 to 26, 2025, with a case fatality rate of 18.3%. Lassa fever transmission is highly seasonal, peaking during the dry months when food scarcity drives rodent-human interactions. Inadequate early detection, weak surveillance systems, and economic constraints exacerbate the burden on Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure. Environmental, socioeconomic, and systemic healthcare limitations drive the resurgence of Lassa fever. Climate change-induced shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns have disrupted rodent habitats, increasing human exposure to the virus. Additionally, poverty, poor sanitation, and urban expansion facilitate the proliferation of disease-carrying rodents. Limited funding and insufficient healthcare facilities hinder timely responses, contributing to high mortality rates. The economic impact extends beyond healthcare costs to agricultural disruptions, trade restrictions, and workforce productivity losses. To mitigate future outbreaks, Nigeria must adopt a multifaceted strategy that includes robust disease surveillance, the use of environmental data, effective rodent control measures, improved waste management, and strengthened cross-sectoral collaboration and policy implementation. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, investing in vaccine development will enhance early detection and response efforts. By adopting an integrated One Health approach, Nigeria can improve disease control, reduce fatalities, and alleviate the economic burden of Lassa fever outbreaks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c96044a8a404ea4ad77d8e2198a9ba2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c96044a8a404ea4ad77d8e2198a9ba22025-08-20T03:27:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15744591574459The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventionsStanley Chinedu Eneh0Stanley Chinedu Eneh1Stanley Chinedu Eneh2Chidera Gabriel Obi3Chidera Gabriel Obi4Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono5Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono6Zakariya’u Dauda7Zakariya’u Dauda8Samson Adiaetok Udoewah9Samson Adiaetok Udoewah10Collins Chibueze Anokwuru11Collins Chibueze Anokwuru12Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi13Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi14Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria15Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria16Temitope Olumuyiwa Ojo17Chukwuocha Uchechukwu Madukaku18Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze19Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze20Amara Frances Chizoba21Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NigeriaIVAN Research Institute, University of Nigeria, Enugu, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaSchool of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Public Health Nursing, Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Public Health, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaDepartment of Public Health, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri, NigeriaYouth in Research Hub, Enugu, NigeriaSchool of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, NigeriaDepartment of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria0Innovations and Technologies for Disease Control Research Group, Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria2Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria3Mission to Elderlies Foundation, Anambra, NigeriaLassa fever remains a persistent public health challenge in Nigeria, with annual outbreaks expanding across the country. Between 2018 and 2023, the disease spread from 20 to 34 of Nigeria’s 37 states, underscoring its endemic nature. Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) indicates 1,171 suspected cases, 290 confirmed cases, and 53 deaths between January 6 to 26, 2025, with a case fatality rate of 18.3%. Lassa fever transmission is highly seasonal, peaking during the dry months when food scarcity drives rodent-human interactions. Inadequate early detection, weak surveillance systems, and economic constraints exacerbate the burden on Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure. Environmental, socioeconomic, and systemic healthcare limitations drive the resurgence of Lassa fever. Climate change-induced shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns have disrupted rodent habitats, increasing human exposure to the virus. Additionally, poverty, poor sanitation, and urban expansion facilitate the proliferation of disease-carrying rodents. Limited funding and insufficient healthcare facilities hinder timely responses, contributing to high mortality rates. The economic impact extends beyond healthcare costs to agricultural disruptions, trade restrictions, and workforce productivity losses. To mitigate future outbreaks, Nigeria must adopt a multifaceted strategy that includes robust disease surveillance, the use of environmental data, effective rodent control measures, improved waste management, and strengthened cross-sectoral collaboration and policy implementation. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, investing in vaccine development will enhance early detection and response efforts. By adopting an integrated One Health approach, Nigeria can improve disease control, reduce fatalities, and alleviate the economic burden of Lassa fever outbreaks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1574459/fullLassa feveroutbreakNigeriaeconomic impactre-emerging diseasesdisease control |
| spellingShingle | Stanley Chinedu Eneh Stanley Chinedu Eneh Stanley Chinedu Eneh Chidera Gabriel Obi Chidera Gabriel Obi Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono Udokang Ephraim Ikpongifono Zakariya’u Dauda Zakariya’u Dauda Samson Adiaetok Udoewah Samson Adiaetok Udoewah Collins Chibueze Anokwuru Collins Chibueze Anokwuru Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi Francisca Ogochukwu Onukansi Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria Ogechi Vinaprisca Ikhuoria Temitope Olumuyiwa Ojo Chukwuocha Uchechukwu Madukaku Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze Ibuchukwu Nkeonyenasoya Orabueze Amara Frances Chizoba The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions Frontiers in Public Health Lassa fever outbreak Nigeria economic impact re-emerging diseases disease control |
| title | The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions |
| title_full | The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions |
| title_fullStr | The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions |
| title_short | The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions |
| title_sort | resurgence of lassa fever in nigeria economic impact challenges and strategic public health interventions |
| topic | Lassa fever outbreak Nigeria economic impact re-emerging diseases disease control |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1574459/full |
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