Health care
NCDC Reports Decline In Lassa Fever Cases In Nigeria
NCDC Reports Decline In Lassa Fever Cases In Nigeria
NCDC reports decline in Lassa fever cases in Nigeria. Public health experts have called for more proactive measures to address gaps in early detection.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a decline in new confirmed Lassa fever cases in its Epidemiological Week 9 2025 report.
The NCDC via its official website on Sunday, said that the fatality rate remained alarmingly high at 18.7 per cent, with 100 deaths recorded so far in 2025.
According to the Lassa Fever Situation Report released by the agency, 29 new cases were confirmed across nine states, a drop from 54 cases recorded in the previous week (Week 8).
It said that the affected states included Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Cross River, Nasarawa, and Enugu.
The NCDC highlighted that 72 per cent of all confirmed cases were reported from just three states—Ondo 31 per cent, Bauchi 24 per cent, and Edo 17 per cent.
It said that these states continued to bear the brunt of the outbreak, raising concerns over the effectiveness of ongoing containment efforts.
Furthermore, it noted that one new healthcare worker was infected in Week 9, bringing the total number of affected health workers in 2025 to 17.
“This underscores the urgent need for better protective measures, adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPEs), and enhanced infection prevention protocols in hospitals,” it said.
The NCDC outlined several challenges impacting the response to the outbreak, including: “Late presentation of cases, leading to high fatality rates”.
“Poor health-seeking behaviour, attributed to the high cost of Lassa fever treatment and management.
“Poor environmental sanitation conditions in high-burden communities and low awareness about Lassa fever symptoms and preventive measures”.
In response to the outbreak, it said that the National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) had been deployed to Gombe, Nasarawa, and Benue states to provide technical support.
Additionally, the NCDC said it had intensified risk communication efforts and conducted training for healthcare workers in Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Benue states.
The agency said it was also collaborating with international partners such as WHO, MSF Geneva, and Georgetown Global Health Nigeria to improve case management and enhance surveillance.
Comparative data from the NCDC showed that while the number of confirmed cases in 2025 (535 cases as of Week 9) is lower than in 2024 (682 cases during the same period), the fatality rate remains nearly the same (18.7% vs. 18.8%).
“The NCDC continues to advise Nigerians to: “avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, store food properly to prevent contamination, and seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding,” it reported.
Meanwhile, public health experts said this called for more proactive measures to address gaps in early detection, treatment affordability, and public awareness to reduce mortality rates in future outbreaks.
They urged state governments, donor agencies, and community leaders to intensify awareness campaigns and improve healthcare infrastructure in Lassa fever hotspots.
As Nigeria battles this recurrent public health challenge, experts emphasised the need for long-term investments in disease surveillance, public health education, and improved access to treatment to curb future outbreaks.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus, primarily spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine, faeces, or saliva of infected rodents.
Lassa Fever
Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings, with inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
Nigeria records Lassa fever cases year-round, with peak transmission occurring between October and May.
The high burden of the disease is linked to widespread rodent infestations, poor sanitation, and a lack of awareness in many communities.
Efforts to combat Lassa fever in the country include: surveillance and early detection, case management, and public health awareness campaigns.
In spite of these efforts, Lassa fever remains a significant public health challenge, with high mortality rates and the potential for international spread, as seen in the recent report.
WaterAid, Bwari Council Allocate N521m For WASH In 6 Primary Healthcare Centres
WaterAid, Bwari council allocate N521m for WASH in 6 primary healthcare centres. The total proposed budget for the Local Investment Plan (LIP) is N521,655,000.
WaterAid Nigeria, in collaboration with the Bwari Area Council, has earmarked more than N500 million for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in six primary healthcare centres (PHCs).
The proposal was presented at a one-day “Validation Workshop on Local Investment Plans (LIP) for Six Primary Healthcare Institutions” on Monday in Abuja.
The selected PHCs for this pilot project are Dutse-Alhaji, Owner Occupier, Sabon-Gari, Byazhin, Dei-dei, and Ushafa.
The total proposed budget for the Local Investment Plan (LIP) is N521,655,000.
This funding aims to enhance WASH services, environmental cleaning, health waste management, and monitoring and evaluation across the selected centres. The investment plan is set to cover the period from 2025 to 2030.
Nampet Chuktu, WaterAid head of programmes, highlighted the importance of collaborating with stakeholders to ensure accurate documentation and validation of the investment plans, which would also help in advocating for future budget releases.
“This is so that we are not guessing what is needed or what should be in place each year.
“Instead, we will be able to determine what should be at the centres because it has been validated and documented. With this document, we can advocate for budget release,” he said.
Mr Chuktu urged the representatives of each PHC at the workshop to help facilitate the process and ensure that the overseeing authority at the FCT Primary Health Secretariat properly situates the document.
He also noted that WaterAid, with funding support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Charities, would finance 30 per cent of the project, while the council would finance 70 per cent.
Kabiru Abbas, a consultant, stressed the need for critical infrastructural development to improve WASH services in the PHCs.
He explained that the development of a WASH investment plan would help secure funding for the improvement of healthcare services and contribute to achieving social development goals in the area.
“The LIP is a comprehensive plan for achieving the social development goals within the area council.
“The state of WASH services in health institutions in Bwari Area Council has been precarious and requires significant investment in infrastructure,” he said.
WaterAid
He explained that the LIP was the result of a participatory process involving the assessment of gaps, setting priorities and timelines, and identifying the resources needed to achieve the set objectives.
“It is also evidence-based, life-cycle costed, and developed through a participatory approach involving a mix of stakeholders,” he added.
The head of administration of the Bwari Area Council, Isa Musa, assured swift action in adopting the document on behalf of the council chairman.
“WaterAid Nigeria has already supported a 12-month project focused on enhancing WASH facilities in Bwari’s PHCs, including constructing and rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities.
“This project is part of WaterAid’s broader sustainability strategy to maintain the WASH improvements in the council over the next six years,” he said.
The event was attended by officials from various council departments, PHC managers, traditional leaders, and other WASH collaborators.
School Headmaster Arrested For Alleged S3xual Assault Of Pupil In Ogun
School headmaster arrested for alleged s3xual assault of pupil in Ogun. The Ogun State Government has confirmed the arrest of Ashafa Afelaja, a private school headmaster in Eyin Ogbe, Igode, near Ogijo, for allegedly assaulting a female pupil.
Afelaja was apprehended following a report from a concerned citizen who alerted the state authorities about the incident.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, announced the arrest in a statement on Monday, assuring the public that the victim is receiving medical care and psychological support.
“Our rescue team intervened in Adamo, Ikorodu, after reports of a school headmaster assaulting a young female pupil. The suspect is currently in police custody, and we are closely monitoring the well-being of the rescued child and her mother,” Adeleye stated.
She emphasized the government’s commitment to justice for survivors of abuse, pledging to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure swift legal action against offenders.
“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report cases of child abuse, domestic violence, and other forms of maltreatment.
The administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun maintains a zero-tolerance policy for gender-based violence and child abuse,” she added. Boy Rescued from Abusive Father in Ado-Odo/Ota
In a related development, the ministry also rescued a four-year-old boy in Igboko, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, after he was reportedly assaulted by his father.
Ogun
The child is now under the protective custody of the Ministry, receiving medical care and emotional support.
“The alleged perpetrator is in police custody, and legal proceedings are underway to ensure justice is served. The child is stable and responding well to treatment,” Adeleye confirmed.
She called on the public to support efforts in eliminating gender-based violence and child abuse in the state.
New York: Gene Therapy Offers New Sickle Cell Cure
In the US
New York: Gene therapy offers new sickle cell cure in the US. Sebastien Beauzile, a 21-year-old from Laurelton, Long Island, has become the first person in New York State to be cured of sickle cell anemia using the groundbreaking Lyfgenia gene therapy.
Administered at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, this innovative treatment provides hope for many suffering from the painful genetic disorder, Forbes reported on Sunday.
A Lifelong Battle
Sickle cell anemia causes abnormally shaped red blood cells, leading to severe pain and potential organ damage.
Beauzile, diagnosed at just four months old, endured frequent hospitalizations due to intense pain crises, which he described as “10 out of 10” in severity.
Sickle Cell Cure
Gene Therapy Breakthrough
Developed by Bluebird Bio and approved by the FDA in December 2023, Lyfgenia works by extracting a patient’s blood stem cells, genetically modifying them to include functional hemoglobin genes, and reinfusing them into the bloodstream.
This cutting-edge approach marks a major step forward in treating sickle cell disease.
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