Challenges Associated With Re-Emergence of Lassa Fever in Nigeria: An Exploratory Study of Epidemiology, Phylogenomics, and Recommendations Toward Its Eradication

Background: Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in Nigeria and other West African countries. In recent years, the number of reported cases of LF in Nigeria has increased. In this study, we discussed the epidemiology of LF, the phylogenomics of the LF virus, issues associated with the increased cases of LF, and recommendations for tackling the future occurrence of LF in Nigeria.

Methods: Epidemiology data on LF were obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control database and analyzed using Microsoft Excel software. About 59 partial and complete sequences consisting of both small and large segments of the LF virus were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information from 1969 to 2013 to study the evolutionary relationship of the LF virus in Nigeria.

Results: Nigeria has been shown to have the highest prevalence of Lassa fever among African countries, with seasonal occurrence in both wet and dry seasons. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of the LF virus showed a great relationship with several outbreaks of LF in Nigeria and other African countries.

Conclusion: To combat the increasing cases of LF in Nigeria, there is a need to increase the molecular diagnosis capacity in Nigeria, improve public health awareness about the disease in rural and urban settlements, integrate a surveillance system through the One Health lens, and support LF vaccine research in Africa.