The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Onilu, has expressed concern over the alarming increase in Lassa Fever infections in Nigeria, revealing that by October 2024, over 1,025 cases had been reported across 28 states. Onilu, represented by Simon Idoko, the Deputy Director of the Health and Social Care Department, made this statement during the launch of the NOA’s Lassa Fever sensitization campaign in Benue State on Tuesday.
Onilu described the recurrent outbreaks of the disease as a serious national issue and urged Nigerians to take proactive measures to ensure their environments are free of rodents, the primary carriers of the virus. The 1,025 recorded infections, spanning 28 states, have prompted the agency to focus intervention efforts on eight high-risk states, including Benue, to curb the spread of Lassa Fever.
The NOA, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), is leading a nationwide awareness campaign. The focus will be on educating the public about risk prevention and control measures. Onilu emphasized that Lassa Fever is preventable through good hygiene practices, proper food storage in rodent-proof containers, and avoiding contact with infected individuals.
The campaign will engage state officers, community leaders, influencers, and schools, while organizing road shows in rural areas to raise awareness and reduce the infection rate. Bitrus Idoko, the Benue State Director of NOA, highlighted that rural communities and health workers are particularly vulnerable and urged the public to avoid consuming rats, which are known to carry the virus.
