Lassa fever in Nigeria: Update 1
21 Feb 2024
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports continued occurrence of Lassa fever across Nigeria in 2024. From 1 January 2024 to 11 February 2024 there were 411 confirmed cases, including 72 deaths. A further 2122 suspected cases were also reported.
Lassa fever cases have been reported in 32 states, with 65% of all confirmed Lassa fever cases reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states.
Lassa fever is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) that occurs in parts of West Africa. Lassa virus is transmitted through the pee or droppings from infected rodents (Mastomys rats). Transmission can also occur through body fluids of infected people.
Advice for Travellers
The risk to you becoming infected or developing Lassa fever is extremely low, unless you are living in conditions of poor sanitation and overcrowding in rural areas where these rodents are usually found.
If you are travelling to an area with a Lassa fever outbreak, you should be aware of your risk of infection and transmission routes of Lassa virus which is most commonly through:
- swallowing or breathing in tiny particles in the air if it has been contaminated with infected rodent excretions, for example during cleaning activities such as sweeping
- touching objects soiled with infected rat droppings or urine, and infecting open cuts or sores
- eating food which has been contaminated with rat droppings or urine
If you are medical personnel travelling to work in an outbreak region you must follow strict infection prevention control guidance.
If you return from a Lassa fever outbreak area, you should seek rapid medical attention by contacting NHS 24 (Scotland) or NHS 111 (rest of UK) for advice prior to attending UK medical facilities if you develop a high temperature (fever) and have:
- returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area with a known outbreak of Lassa fever
- had contact with individuals infected with a VHF
For further information, see the fitfortravel Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.