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Lassa Fever Cases Decline in Nigeria, Fatality Rate Remains High – NCDC

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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.

Report says that 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.

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. (NAN)

Health

NCDC Warns of Cholera Surge, Gives Updates on Other Outbreaks

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 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following a significant surge in cholera cases across 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in nine states.

During a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr                    Jide Idris, expressed concern over the rising number of cholera infections as the rainy season begins.

He warned that the situation posed a serious public health threat.

“As of April 28, 2025, over 1,141 suspected cholera cases and 30 deaths have been reported across multiple states, with Bayelsa, Lagos, Abia, and Zamfara among the most affected,” he said.

Idris attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation, inadequate access to clean water, and widespread open defecation.

He said the NCDC was working in collaboration with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and development partners to strengthen surveillance, improve access to oral rehydration therapy, and promote hygiene education.

On Lassa fever, he reported a decline in weekly cases but warned that the disease remained persistent in endemic states such as Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi.

“We must not relax. The virus is still circulating in the rodent population,” he cautioned.

He also noted continued transmission of Mpox, with recent cases reported in Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.

“While no deaths have been recorded in the past month, the virus continues to spread through close contact,” he added.

On Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), Idris stated that outbreaks had occurred in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe states, predominantly affecting children and young adults.

He said vaccination campaigns were underway in high-burden areas, supported by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Gavi.

Idris further emphasised the urgent need for the rational use of antibiotics in managing the ongoing outbreaks, warning that misuse, particularly in cholera and Lassa fever treatment, could worsen antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“We must remind our health workers and communities that not every illness requires antibiotics.

“Inappropriate use during outbreaks is a silent pandemic that could undermine our ability to treat infections in the future,” he warned.

He urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as regular hand washing, proper waste disposal, and early medical attention when symptoms of any of the listed diseases were observed.

“Public health is a shared responsibility,” Idris said, calling on the media and civil society groups to support risk communication and community engagement efforts

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General News

FRSC Gets New Sector Commander in Osun 

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 The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appointed Mr Leye Adegboyega as the new Sector Commander for Osun RS11.1 Command.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adegboyega, who assumed on on May 2, took over from Mr Taofeeq Sokumbi , who has been redeployed.

NAN further reports that the new sector commander until his appointment was the Zonal Head of Operations at Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo.

He was was enlisted into the service of the Federal Road Safety Corps on Nov. 1, 1993, and was appointed as the Personal Assistant to the Director of Operations, a post he held till 1998.

Adegboyega was later redeployed and appointed the pioneer Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the erstwhile Acting Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Mr Danyaro Yakasai.

In 1999, he was redeployed to the then Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRAS) as the Staff Officer (Statistics) and in 2003, he was posted to Imo  Sector Command as Staff Officer (Operations).

The new sector commander was in 2005 redeployed to Owo Unit Command in Ondo State as the Unit Head of Administration and Human Resources, a position he occupied until 2009, as an Assistant Corps Commander l.

After several promotions and awards, he was promoted to his present rank of Corps Commander in April 2022.

The new sector commander was redeployed on April1, 2022 to the Federal Road Safety Command and Staff College, Udi, Enugu State, as Director of Coordination, a position he held till July 2023.

In July 2023, he was redeployed to Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo as the Zonal Head of Operations.

Adegboyega was born in Abeokuta on  July 25,  1969, to the family of Late Pa Femi Adeleye and Mrs Felicia Adeleye from Ayetoro in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He attended St. Andrew’s Primary School, Ibara, Abeokuta, from 1974 to 1979 and later proceeded to the prestigious African Church Grammar School, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, from where he obtained the West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE) in 1985.

He bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Political Science from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, in the year 1992  and later did his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)  in Enugu with the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Adegboyega received commendations for his outstanding performance and was subsequently given automatic employment by the FRSC Management in 1993.

He is married to Mrs Oluwayemisi Elizabeth and the union is blessed with four lovely children.

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JUDICIARY

Court Remands 6 Men Docked Over Alleged Breach of Peace, Unlawful Gathering

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A Grade A Customary Court at Mapo in Ibadan has remanded six men standing trial for alleged breach of public peace, following their inability to meet their bail conditions.

The defendants are; Ismail Oladipupo, Ridwan Raji, Biodun Gbadamosi, Usman Mohammed, Samuel Olowu and Sunday Akande.

Due to their inability to meet bail, the Court President, Mrs S.

M. Akintayo, ordered that the six defendants be remanded in Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo.

Akintayo had admitted each of the defendants to N200,000 bail after they all pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful gathering and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

The court also ordered that the defendants should provide two reliable sureties, one of whom must be a community leader.

However, the six men could not meet the bail conditions and therefore were remanded at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town.

Akintayo subsequently adjourned the suit until June 24 for hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 14, at 12:45 a.m., at Agbaje Market, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ayeni said that the defendants were arrested after they were caught using various dangerous objects such as cutlasses, broken bottles and stones, daring anybody to confront them.

According to him, the six men by their actions allegedly caused apprehension and fear in the entire community.

He stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 416 and 249 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 vol. II Law of Oyo State 2000

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