Editing Lassa fever (section)

=== Nigeria ===

====2018 outbreak====
{|class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin:0 1em 0.5em 1em;"
|+ Infections and deaths by country
|-
| '''Country''' || '''Infections''' || '''Deaths'''
|-
| [[Nigeria]] || 2,121 || 132
|-
| [[Liberia]] || 108 || 
|-
| [[Sierra Leone]] || 129 || 12
|-
| [[Guinea]] || 98 || 
|}
An outbreak of Lassa fever occurred in Nigeria during 2018 and spread to 18 of the country's states; it was the largest outbreak of Lassa recorded.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Maxmen|first1=Amy|title=Deadly Lassa-fever outbreak tests Nigeria's revamped health agency|journal=Nature|volume=555|issue=7697|pages=421–422|date=15 March 2018|doi=10.1038/d41586-018-03171-y|pmid=29565399|language=EN|bibcode=2018Natur.555..421M|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=WHO2018-03>{{cite news|title=On the frontlines of the fight against Lassa fever in Nigeria|url=https://www.who.int/features/2018/lassa-fever-nigeria/en/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318094709/http://www.who.int/features/2018/lassa-fever-nigeria/en/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2018|work=World Health Organization|date=March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Beaubien|first1=Jason|title=Nigeria Faces Mystifying Spike in Deadly Lassa Fever|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/03/19/587603462/nigeria-faces-mystiifying-spike-in-deadly-lassa-fever|work=NPR|date=19 March 2018|language=en|access-date=18 June 2019|archive-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319235226/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/03/19/587603462/nigeria-faces-mystiifying-spike-in-deadly-lassa-fever|url-status=live}}</ref> The outbreak primarily affected [[Nigeria]], [[Liberia]], [[Sierra Leone]], and [[Guinea]], with cases reported since January 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Balogun |first1=Oluwafemi O. |last2=Akande |first2=Oluwatosin W. |last3=Hamer |first3=Davidson H. |date=2020-11-23 |title=Lassa Fever: An Evolving Emergency in West Africa |journal=The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |volume=104 |issue=2 |pages=466–473 |doi=10.4269/ajtmh.20-0487 |issn=1476-1645 |pmc=7866331 |pmid=33236712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lassa Fever – Nigeria |url=https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/01-march-2018-lassa-fever-nigeria-en |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref>

As of 25 February 2018, there were 1081 suspected cases and 90 reported deaths; 317 of the cases and 72 deaths were confirmed as Lassa which increased to a total of 431 reported cases in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.who.int/csr/don/01-march-2018-lassa-fever-nigeria/en/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301141952/http://www.who.int/csr/don/01-march-2018-lassa-fever-nigeria/en/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 March 2018|title=Lassa Fever – Nigeria|date=1 March 2018|work=World Health Organization}}</ref> During the outbreak, a total of 3,498 [[Infection|infections]] were recorded, resulting in 171 deaths. Nigeria was the most severely impacted, accounting for over half of the total cases and fatalities. [[World Health Organization|The World Health Organization]] (WHO) reported on 27 March 2018 that 1,081 suspected cases and 90 deaths had occurred.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Lassa Fever {{!}} WHO {{!}} Regional Office for Africa |url=https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/lassa-fever |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.afro.who.int |language=en}}</ref> It was one of the most severe Lassa fever outbreaks in the region in recent years, exhausting a significant portion of the global emergency medical response resources.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CDC |date=2025-01-31 |title=About Lassa Fever |url=https://www.cdc.gov/lassa-fever/about/index.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Lassa Fever |language=en-us}}</ref>

Health organizations, including [[Médecins Sans Frontières|Doctors Without Borders]] and the WHO, collaborated with national governments to contain the outbreak through mass awareness campaigns, improved surveillance, and emergency medical interventions. In total, 2.1 million people received preventive health education, while emergency treatment centers were established across affected regions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meeting of the Lassa Fever Coalition Governing Entity (LGE) {{!}} West African Health Organization |url=https://www.wahooas.org/web-ooas/en/actualites/meeting-lassa-fever-coalition-governing-entity-lge |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.wahooas.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Aloke |first1=Chinyere |last2=Obasi |first2=Nwogo Ajuka |last3=Aja |first3=Patrick Maduabuchi |last4=Emelike |first4=Chinedum Uche |last5=Egwu |first5=Chinedu Ogbonnia |last6=Jeje |first6=Olamide |last7=Edeogu |first7=Chuks Oswald |last8=Onisuru |first8=Olalekan Olugbenga |last9=Orji |first9=Obasi Uche |last10=Achilonu |first10=Ikechukwu |date=2023-01-03 |title=Combating Lassa Fever in West African Sub-Region: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives |journal=Viruses |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=146 |doi=10.3390/v15010146 |doi-access=free |issn=1999-4915 |pmc=9864412 |pmid=36680186}}</ref>

Nigeria was the hardest hit country, with 2,121 cases and 132 deaths reported. The outbreak affected 18 of its 36 [[States of Nigeria|states]], with the highest cases recorded in [[Edo]]''',''' [[Ondo State|Ondo]]''',''' and [[Ebonyi State|Ebonyi States]]. The [[Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare|Nigerian Ministry of Health]] launched an extensive awareness campaign and deployed medical teams to affected areas. Emergency supplies, including [[ribavirin]] (an antiviral drug), were distributed, and treatment centers were set up in federal hospitals to manage severe cases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigeria: spread of Lassa fever, by status 2023 {{!}} Statista |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126777/number-of-lassa-fever-cases-in-nigeria/#:~:text=From%20January%20to%20October%202023,in%20several%20West%20African%20countries. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240807221000/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1126777/number-of-lassa-fever-cases-in-nigeria/ |archive-date=2024-08-07 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lassa Fever - Nigeria |url=https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/lassa-fever---nigeria |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref>

==== 2019 outbreak ====
{{Infobox News event
| image = [[File:2009 Africa epidemic.png]]
| caption = Countries affected by the epidemic
| map_size = 50
| place = [[Sierra Leone]], [[Liberia]], [[Guinea]], and [[Nigeria]]
| casualties1 = 1,100 dead
| casualties2 = 25,000 suspected cases
| casualties3 = 
| notes = 
}}
The total cases in Nigeria in 2019 was 810 with 167 deaths, the largest case fatality rate (23.3%) until then.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/africa/1814567/coronavirus-less-deadly-than-nigeria-lassa-fever-viral-outbreak/|title=Nigeria is already dealing with a deadlier viral outbreak than the coronavirus epidemic|last=Edward-Ekpu|first=Uwagbale|website=Quartz Africa|date=8 March 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-03-13|archive-date=13 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313035110/https://qz.com/africa/1814567/coronavirus-less-deadly-than-nigeria-lassa-fever-viral-outbreak/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

==== 2020 outbreak ====
The epidemic started from the second week of the January. By the tenth week the total number of cases has risen to 855 and deaths to 144, the case fatality rate of 16.8%.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/files/sitreps/f9c5b3d7327f20c15c3916ff5514fb14.pdf|title=Lassa fever situation report|website=Nigeria Centre for Disease Control|date=March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020|archive-date=9 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409140325/https://www.ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/files/sitreps/f9c5b3d7327f20c15c3916ff5514fb14.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2021 outbreak====
On the 8th of December 2021, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was notified of the death of two persons from Lassa fever.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigeria Centre for Disease Control |url=https://ncdc.gov.ng/news/349/ncdc-intensifies-activities-for-lassa-fever-surveillance-and-response-following-outbreaks-of-cases-in-nigeria |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=ncdc.gov.ng |archive-date=15 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415013226/https://www.ncdc.gov.ng/news/349/ncdc-intensifies-activities-for-lassa-fever-surveillance-and-response-following-outbreaks-of-cases-in-nigeria |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2022 outbreak====
The epidemic took a new form, from 3 to 30 January 2022, 211 laboratory confirmed Lassa fever cases including 40 deaths (case fatality ratio: 19%) have been cumulatively reported in 14 of the 36 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lassa Fever - Nigeria |url=https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/lassa-fever---nigeria |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.who.int |language=en |archive-date=16 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216001642/https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/lassa-fever---nigeria |url-status=live }}</ref> In total from January until March, 132 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.1% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (21.0%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCDC Lassa fever Situation Report Epi Week 13: 28 March - 3 April, 2022 - Nigeria |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/ncdc-lassa-fever-situation-report-epi-week-13-28-march-3-april-2022 |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=ReliefWeb |date=17 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423082720/https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/ncdc-lassa-fever-situation-report-epi-week-13-28-march-3-april-2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2024 outbreak====
In October 2024, a resident of [[Iowa]], United States, died from Lassa fever after traveling to West Africa. This case, confirmed by the [[Iowa Department of Health and Human Services]], underscores the risk of international spread. The individual likely contracted the virus abroad, as Lassa fever spreads through infected rodent excreta or bodily fluids. Health authorities are monitoring close contacts to prevent further transmission.<ref name="Branswell"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=CDC |date=2024-10-28 |title=Lassa Fever Suspected in Death of U.S. Traveler Returning from West Africa |url=https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s1028-lassa-fever.html |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=CDC Newsroom |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ProLife HC |title=Lassa Fever Death in Iowa After West African Travel |url=https://prolifehc.com/post/Lassa-Fever-Death-in-Iowa-After-West-African-Travel |date=2024-10-29 |access-date=2024-10-29}}</ref>

====2025 outbreak====
Nigeria is grappling with a severe Lassa fever outbreak, reporting 535 confirmed cases and 98 deaths across 14 states since January, with a case fatality rate of 18.3%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anyaogu |first=Isaac |date=March 11, 2025 |title=Nigeria steps up fight against Lassa fever outbreak after 98 deaths this year |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/nigeria-steps-up-fight-against-lassa-fever-outbreak-after-98-deaths-this-year-2025-03-11/ |access-date=3 April 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref> The disease spread to a patient who travelled to the UK, prompting contact tracing efforts in both countries. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) issued a renewed advisory urging heightened awareness and preventative measures.