Lassa Fever in Nigeria
Warning - Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel
Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions
Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions
Key points
- There is an outbreak of Lassa fever in several states in Nigeria (see map).
- Travelers to Nigeria should:
- Avoid contact with rodents.
- Avoid food and material that could be contaminated with rodent urine or droppings.
- Travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop (during or after travel) fever, chills, headache, fatigue, bleeding, trouble breathing, vomiting, facial swelling or pain in the chest, back and abdomen,. Treatment with an antiviral medicine is most effective during the early stages of illness. Call ahead before going to a healthcare facility and tell your doctor that you’ve been to an area with Lassa fever.
Traveler Information
- Lassa Fever Fact Sheet
- CDC Lassa Fever Website
- Health Information for Travelers to Nigeria
- Information for People Working and Living Abroad
Clinician Information
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in the CDC Yellow Book (Health Information for International Travel)
- Information for Healthcare Workers
Map: Area of Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria (see larger map)
What is Lassa fever?
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever spread through contact with infected rodents, their urine or droppings. Lassa fever can also be spread from person to person through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
Symptoms of Lassa fever (fever, chills, headache, and fatigue) develop 1–3 weeks after infection. About 20% of people infected with Lassa fever develop severe illness that can lead to bleeding, trouble breathing, vomiting, facial swelling, pain in the chest, back, and abdomen, and sometimes death.
Treatment with ribavirin has been successful when given in the early stages of the illness.
Page last reviewed: March 01, 2023