NCDC Steps Up Risk Communication and Community Engagement Interventions Amidst Lassa Fever Outbreak

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has reported a total of 168 deaths, including 17 probable, due to Lassa fever between January and August 2024, with a case fatality rate of 17.1 percent out of 7,973 suspected cases reported across 127 local government areas in 28 states. The agency has taken a series of measures to respond to the outbreak, including conducting workshops, hosting webinars, and engaging in high-level advocacy with governors' and commissioners' forums. The NCDC is also stepping up risk communication and community engagement interventions, including broadcasting prevention messages in local languages on radio and TV stations from September.

Key Takeaways:

The NCDC has confirmed 168 deaths, including 17 probable, due to Lassa fever between January and August 2024, with a case fatality rate of 17.1 percent.
A total of 7,973 suspected cases were reported across 127 local government areas in 28 states.
The agency conducted the 2024 National Lassa Fever After Action Review workshop and hosted multisectoral Lassa Fever webinar series.
The NCDC supported states in conducting operational readiness assessments one month before the outbreak season.
The agency implemented environmental sanitation and deratization exercises in five hotspot states to reduce the rodent population.
The NCDC will deploy surge staff, including clinicians, laboratorians, IPC specialists, and contact tracers, to sustain interventions throughout the outbreak season.

Statistics:

168 deaths, including 17 probable, due to Lassa fever between January and August 2024.
Case fatality rate of 17.1 percent out of 7,973 suspected cases reported.
7,973 suspected cases reported across 127 local government areas in 28 states.
34 healthcare workers affected by Lassa fever.
982 Lassa fever cases confirmed during the period.

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