Eating Rodents Not Major Cause Of Lassa Fever, Study Revealed

A new study funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has overturned a widely held belief about Lassa fever, finding that eating rodents is not an independent predictor of infection.

Principal Investigator of the project, Prof. Joseph Okopi from the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the presentation of outcomes from the N250m Mega Research Grant awarded by TETFund.

He said the research, the largest multi-state population surveillance ever conducted on Lassa fever in Nigeria, investigated antibody prevalence, rodent vectors, transmission patterns and risk factors across five states.

“We discovered that the commonly held belief that eating rodents is the major predictor of infection was not supported by our findings. Rodent consumption was not an independent predictor of Lassa fever infection,” Okopi said.

Instead, the study identified poor housing conditions, rodent infestation, food contamination, leaking ceilings and poorly fitted doors as key environmental risk factors.

Benue State recorded the highest prevalence of Lassa fever antibodies among the states surveyed, and adults aged 20 to 40 years showed the highest exposure because of frequent farming and other outdoor activities that bring them into contact with infected rodents.

He noted that the study is crucial even as Nigeria continues to bear the highest global burden of the disease with between 5,000 and 10,000 deaths recorded annually.

Presenting the Clinical findings, another member of the research team, Prof. Audu Onyemocho showed that 1,266 participants were enrolled and 392 suspected cases investigated in Benue and Kogi states.

Of those, 43 tested positive for Lassa fever using real-time polymerase chain reaction, with 25 confirmed cases in Benue and 18 in Kogi.

Bleeding, older age and seizures were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality among confirmed patients.

Reacting to the findings, TETFund Executive Secretary, Arch. Sonny Echono, said the results reinforced the need for Nigeria to move beyond research into practical interventions.

He challenged the team to focus on the fastest route to a vaccine, describing vaccination as the most effective means of controlling infectious diseases.

“What is the shortest route towards developing a vaccine? How can we ensure that the burden on our people is reduced? Every year, thousands of Nigerians die from Lassa fever. I know a vaccine is usually the most effective mode of disease control. What is the fastest path, and how can TETFund support that drive so that we can achieve direct benefits and direct impact on the lives of Nigerians?” he asked.

Echono assured the researchers that TETFund would escalate the findings to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Ministry of Health, adding that validation of the results would strengthen the case for establishing a vaccine development centre in Nigeria.

He commended the team for producing evidence capable of improving healthcare delivery and said defeating diseases like Lassa fever would mark significant progress for the country.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of FUHSO, Prof. Francis Aba Uba, said the project was one of the most significant research investments in the university’s history and an expression of confidence in Nigerian scientists to generate evidence-based solutions to persistent public health challenges.

He said the grant had strengthened laboratory capacity, developed young investigators, fostered collaborations and produced findings that could influence clinical practice and policy.

He appealed to TETFund and the Federal Government to designate FUHSO as a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research to consolidate the gains and position the university to lead responses to emerging and re-emerging diseases.