Co-epidemics: Have measures against COVID-19 helped to reduce Lassa fever cases in Nigeria?

Reuben, Rine Christopher; Gyar, Silas Dogara; Makut, Makwin Danladi; Adoga, Moses P.

While the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks multiple devastating public health and socio-economic havocs across the world, Nigeria alongside other West African countries is simultaneously faced with recurrent Lassa fever epidemic. The complicating scenario is the similarity in the clinical manifestation of both COVID-19 and Lassa fever, making a significant risk in the misdiagnosis of the initial presentation of both diseases with an increased likelihood of coinfection. However, the strict implementation of COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) measures across Nigeria after the initial outbreaks concurrently resulted in the reduction of Lassa fever cases. The abrupt change in the behavior of Lassa fever epidemiological data which are attributable to the implementation of COVID-19 IPC measures at the national, sub-national and community levels requires detailed investigation during and after the COVID-19 epidemic to elucidate the interactions and evolutionary dynamics Lassa fever cases in Nigeria.