Lassa fever that murders; Lesser fervour than others

The fervour with which relevant authorities (Federal & State governments) and their partners (international, regional & local Non-Governmental Organizations) create awareness about some chronic infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, Tuberculosis) and diseases of public health importance (e.g. Cholera, COVID-19, Ebola, Meningitis) among the Nigerian public appears not to be extended to Lassa fever. From the Lassa Fever Situation Report released weekly by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (NCDC), the 10th – 16th March 2025 report showed that out of 604 confirmed cases of Lassa fever,113 deaths have occurred in Nigeria since the beginning of year 2025 till the period of reporting. And 3 States – Ondo, Bauchi & Edo – are responsible for 71% of confirmed cases of Lassa fever. Later parts of the report indicated that “the predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 94 years, Median Age: 30 years) [and] the male-to-female ratio for co...