Why Lassa fever continues to claim lives Lassa fever remains a deadly reality in Nigeria, claiming lives each year despite being preventable. From healthcare workers to vulnerable communities, weak surveillance, delayed diagnosis, inadequate sanitation and systemic lapses continue to fuel outbreaks, exposing urgent gaps in public health preparedness and the need for decisive, sustained action, reports CHINYERE OKOROAFOR Recently, a young doctor, Salome Oboyi, died after contracting Lassa fever from a pregnant patient she was managing at Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH) in Jos, Plateau State. According to colleagues, the senior resident in Obstetrics and Gynaecology developed symptoms consistent with the infection — persistent fever and profound weakness — which later deterior...