Lassa Fever in Nigeria | Nigeria Health Watch

By Nigeria Health Watch | February 1, 2025

Addressing Lassa Fever in Nigeria: The Case for Vaccines and Civil Society Engagement

Zubaida Baba Ibrahim and Ibukun Oguntola (Lead Writers) “When a pandemic strikes, saving lives hinges on rapid vaccine development and equitable access” — David Agunlofi, Programme and Communications Associate at Options Consultancy Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease endemic in West Africa, poses a recurring health challenge, particularly in Nigeria, where cases peak during the dry season […]

21 Nov

Are we there yet? Leveraging the Private Sector for Lassa Vaccine R&D

By Nigeria Health Watch | November 21, 2023

The search for an effective vaccine against Lassa fever has gained momentum in recent years. Currently, early supportive care and the anti-viral drug Ribavirin are the primary methods of patient treatment. Lassa fever has long been a public health concern in Nigeria and parts of West Africa, since the disease was first identified in 1969. […]

4 Jul

Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control: Strengthening Nigeria’s Local Capacity to Lead the Lassa Fever Response

By Nigeria Health Watch | July 4, 2022

By Beti Baiye and Ibukun Oguntola The driveway in the grounds of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) is large and welcoming and as you enter the hospital premises, the hospital’s motto: ‘Patient is Supreme’ catches the eye. The hospital was founded in 1993 to manage viral haemorrhagic fever including Lassa fever and over the […]

22 Jan

When a Virus ‘Outstays its Welcome’: Lassa Virus found in the Semen of Survivors 9 Months after Recovery – implications for public health management

By Nigeria Health Watch | January 22, 2022

Editor’s Note: In this commentary Professor Sylvanus. A. Okogbenin, the Chief Medical Director of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, discusses the significance of a new ground breaking study just published by his team in the pre-eminent medical journal, The Lancet, in which they describe the persistence of the virus in patients after recovery from acute Lassa […]

30 Jul

A tale of two diseases: COVID-19 and Lassa fever in Nigeria

By Nigeria Health Watch | July 30, 2020

Two hundred and nineteen (219) – That is the number of lives lost to Lassa fever between January and June 2020, according to the latest data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Nigeria has been experiencing a yearly outbreak of the viral haemorrhagic fever since it was first identified in Borno state in […]

21 Feb

Top Ten News Items on Health, 21st February 2020

By Nigeria Health Watch | February 21, 2020

No Nigerian in China infected with Covid-19 – Official. WHO, UNICEF rank Nigeria poor in child survival index. World Bank approves $2.2b loans for Nigeria; Ogun, others beneficiaries. Lassa Fever hits Lagos as govt lists precautions, emergency numbers. Senate plans repeal of NHIS Act, raises hope for informal-sector participants. EU Announces N32m Humanitarian Aid to […]

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