Written By: N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe | Updated : October 23, 2025 2:59 PM IST
Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease that is caused by the Lassa Virus, which belongs to the virus family called Arenaviridae. The pathogen was first identified in the year 1969 in Nigeria. Since early this year, hundreds of people have been affected by the zoonotic disease, pushing the death toll to 172.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), out of 8,041 suspected cases reported since the beginning of the year, there are currently 924 active cases. The Nigerian health agency states that the main causes of the Lassa virus are due to poor sanitation, limited knowledge about the disease, and delayed treatment.
The agency further highlighted that the fatality case has risen to 18.6 per cent, which is higher than the 17 per cent that was recorded in the previous year during the same period. It continued that the predominantly affected age group of people are between 21 to 30 years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the incubation period may take up to 2- 21 days after a person gets exposed to the pathogen. Lassa fever may have no signs or show mild symptoms that include fever, general weakness and malaise.
However, a few days later, people who tested positive for the Lassa fever may also show symptoms like headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow.
In severe cases, individuals may also experience symptoms such as facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure may develop.
As of now, there is no licensed vaccine to treat the acute viral illness. However, the global health agency suggests promoting community hygiene while preventing rodents from entering indoor spaces.
Other effective measures, the WHO recommends for preventing Lassa fever, are storing food in a rodent-free container, disposing of garbage far away from your home, and maintaining your house clean, including animals, particularly cats.
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