A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in Nigeria
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness that first came into the limelight as a clinical entity in 1969 when it was discovered in Northern Nigeria, is now found in other West African countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Togo, and the Benin Republic. Over the years, the disease, which is...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1419 |
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| author | Danny Asogun Bosede Arogundade Faith Unuabonah Olorunkemi Olugbenro Joyce Asogun Fatelyn Aluede Deborah Ehichioya |
| author_facet | Danny Asogun Bosede Arogundade Faith Unuabonah Olorunkemi Olugbenro Joyce Asogun Fatelyn Aluede Deborah Ehichioya |
| author_sort | Danny Asogun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness that first came into the limelight as a clinical entity in 1969 when it was discovered in Northern Nigeria, is now found in other West African countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Togo, and the Benin Republic. Over the years, the disease, which is primarily transmitted from contact with infected mastomys rodents to humans, has the capability of secondary human-to-human transmission with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in healthcare settings. The disease is typically characterized by seasonal outbreaks, which peak during the dry season months of December to March. Lassa fever significantly impacts public health and the socioeconomic life of people in affected communities. In Nigeria, the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy (IDSR), along with other medical countermeasures, have been employed to curtail the impact of the disease in endemic regions of Nigeria and other West Africa countries. The one-health approach to combat the disease is a promising strategy. This, along with the hope of a safe and effective vaccine, is a ray of hope on the horizon for public health authorities in Nigeria and other West African countries that the battle against Lassa fever might indeed end sooner than later. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd5694fda06d451aa7c7737ddfa393c3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd5694fda06d451aa7c7737ddfa393c32025-08-20T02:21:11ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-06-01136141910.3390/microorganisms13061419A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in NigeriaDanny Asogun0Bosede Arogundade1Faith Unuabonah2Olorunkemi Olugbenro3Joyce Asogun4Fatelyn Aluede5Deborah Ehichioya6Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Ekpoma 310115, Edo State, NigeriaDepartment of Planning, Research & Statistics, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja 900211, FCT, NigeriaInstitute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Ekpoma 310115, Edo State, NigeriaInstitute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Ekpoma 310115, Edo State, NigeriaInstitute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Ekpoma 310115, Edo State, NigeriaInstitute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Ekpoma 310115, Edo State, NigeriaInstitute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Ekpoma 310115, Edo State, NigeriaLassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness that first came into the limelight as a clinical entity in 1969 when it was discovered in Northern Nigeria, is now found in other West African countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Togo, and the Benin Republic. Over the years, the disease, which is primarily transmitted from contact with infected mastomys rodents to humans, has the capability of secondary human-to-human transmission with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in healthcare settings. The disease is typically characterized by seasonal outbreaks, which peak during the dry season months of December to March. Lassa fever significantly impacts public health and the socioeconomic life of people in affected communities. In Nigeria, the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy (IDSR), along with other medical countermeasures, have been employed to curtail the impact of the disease in endemic regions of Nigeria and other West Africa countries. The one-health approach to combat the disease is a promising strategy. This, along with the hope of a safe and effective vaccine, is a ray of hope on the horizon for public health authorities in Nigeria and other West African countries that the battle against Lassa fever might indeed end sooner than later.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1419Lassa fever virusepidemiologyoutbreakssurveillanceresponse |
| spellingShingle | Danny Asogun Bosede Arogundade Faith Unuabonah Olorunkemi Olugbenro Joyce Asogun Fatelyn Aluede Deborah Ehichioya A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in Nigeria Microorganisms Lassa fever virus epidemiology outbreaks surveillance response |
| title | A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in Nigeria |
| title_full | A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in Nigeria |
| title_short | A Review of the Epidemiology of Lassa Fever in Nigeria |
| title_sort | review of the epidemiology of lassa fever in nigeria |
| topic | Lassa fever virus epidemiology outbreaks surveillance response |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1419 |
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