Lassa Fever in Nigeria (Update 3)
05 Mar 2018
The Nigerian Ministry of Health has reported via media 
that the lassa fever outbreak is continuing.
From 1 January to 25 February 2018 1081 suspected cases and 90 deaths have been recorded from 19 states. The affected states are Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, FCT, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kogi, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Taraba. Edo State has seen 43% and Ondo State 26%. A total of healthcare workers have been affected in 6 states: Ebonyi (7), Nasarawa (1), Kogi (1), Benue (1), Ondo (1) and Edo (3) with 4 deaths in Ebonyi (3) and Kogi (1).
Advice for Travellers
Lassa fever is a low risk for most travellers unless living in poor sanitary conditions with overcrowding in rural areas where the host is usually found. Lassa fever is a viral disease transmitted via the faeces of infected rats. Healthcare workers are at risk if good infection control and barrier nursing methods are not maintained.
Travellers returning from affected areas who develop symptoms of fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain should seek medical advice.