Strengthening Public Health Communication Strategies for Recurrent Lassa fever Outbreaks in Nigeria

Abstract

Lassa fever remains a persistent public health challenge in Nigeria, with recurrent outbreaks annually that typically peak during the early months of the dry season. Despite ongoing surveillance and response activities, the country continues to record high numbers of infections and deaths. These recurring outbreaks highlight the need to examine the role of communication in prevention, particularly how behaviour-focused public health messaging can help reduce transmission before outbreaks escalate. This study analyses three years of national Lassa fever surveillance data from 2023 to 2025. The analysis explores how epidemiological trends can inform effective public health communication strategies. Surveillance reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention were reviewed to examine patterns in confirmed cases and deaths, as well as seasonal trends. The findings show a clear seasonal pattern, with transmission increasing during the dry season and declining during the rainy months. Despite this predictability, communication efforts often intensify only after case numbers begin to rise. The analysis highlights gaps in message timing, audience targeting, and the translation of surveillance insights into practical guidance for communities. The study demonstrates that routine surveillance data can provide early signals that should guide the timing and targeting of risk communication messages. The study recommends proactive communication campaigns that begin before peak transmission periods and target high-burden areas. Such campaigns can strengthen risk awareness, promote preventive practices, and encourage timely health care-seeking.