NOA reports 1,025 Lassa Fever infections across 28 states

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Onilu, has expressed concern over the high rate of Lassa Fever infections in Nigeria, revealing that as of October 2024, over 1,025 cases have been recorded across 28 states.

Onilu, who was represented by Simon Idoko, Deputy Director of the Health and Social Care Department, made this statement during the flag-off of the NOA’s Lassa Fever sensitization campaign in Benue State on Tuesday. He described the annual outbreaks of the disease as a serious national concern, urging Nigerians to take action to ensure their environments are rodent-free.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Onilu emphasized that the 1,025 recorded infections, spanning 28 states, should serve as a wake-up call for proactive measures to combat the disease. The agency has identified eight high-risk states, including Benue, for focused intervention to reduce the spread of Lassa Fever. Onilu stressed the need for collective efforts to protect public health, particularly during the dry season, a period of heightened vulnerability to the virus.

The NOA is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) for this nationwide awareness campaign, focusing on risk prevention and control measures. Onilu stated, “Lassa Fever is preventable if we maintain good hygiene, store food in rodent-proof containers, and avoid contact with infected persons.”

To ensure the success of the campaign, NOA plans to engage state officers, community leaders, influencers, and schools, while conducting road shows in rural areas to spread awareness and reduce the rate of infections

In his remarks, the Benue State Director of NOA, Bitrus Idoko, noted that rural communities and health workers were particularly at high risk https://ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/files/sitreps/1eb24fee275466e4675d0c558538c5bb.pdf of contracting the virus. He urged the public to avoid consuming multi-breasted rats, which are the primary carriers of the virus, and take necessary precautions to prevent the disease.