New Lassa fever infections fall but case fatality rate jumps as Nigeria continues to battle outbreak

Nigeria's ongoing battle with Lassa fever presents a complex epidemiological picture that European investors and business operators must carefully monitor. While preliminary data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) suggests a deceleration in new infections—dropping to 65 cases in the final week of February from 77 the previous week—the simultaneous rise in case fatality rates reveals a deteriorating clinical situation that carries significant implications for business continuity and operational risk across West Africa's largest economy. Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease endemic to West Africa, resurges seasonally between November and March when rodent populations peak in agricultural settings. The virus spreads through contact with infected rodent excreta or human-to-human transmission, particularly in healthcare settings with inadequate infection control protocols. Nigeria has emerged as the epicenter of the disease, accounting for the majority of confirmed cases on the continent over the past five years. The disease's unpredictable nature—combined with a case fatality rate that has historically fluctuated between 15-25%—creates operational uncertainties that affect workforce stability, healthcare infrastructure capacity, and supply chain reliability. The apparent decline in weekly case numbers might suggest improving epidemiological control measures, including enhanced surveillance systems, public awareness campaigns, and isolation protocols. However, the concurrent increase