By Laraba MUREY
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has reported an increase in confirmed Lassa fever cases, with 33 new infections recorded across four states in Epidemiological Week 49 of 2025.
This was disclosed in the agency’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 49, covering December 1 to 7, 2025.
According to the report, confirmed cases rose from 24 in Week 48 to 33 in the latest reporting week, with new infections recorded in Edo, Bauchi, Ondo and Taraba states.
The NCDC said that cumulatively, Nigeria has recorded 1,069 confirmed cases and 195 deaths as of Week 49, with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.2 per cent, higher than the 16.5 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
It added that 21 states have so far recorded at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever across 103 local government areas nationwide.
The report showed that 89 per cent of confirmed cases were reported from four states — Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba — with Ondo accounting for 36 per cent of cases, Bauchi 24 per cent, Edo 17 per cent and Taraba 12 per cent.
The agency noted that the most affected age group was between 21 and 30 years, while the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases stood at 1:0.8.
It also stated that no healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week and that the number of suspected and confirmed cases recorded this year was lower compared to figures reported during the same period in 2024.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to take preventive measures against Lassa fever, including maintaining proper environmental sanitation, storing food in rodent-proof containers and avoiding contact with rats and their droppings.
The agency also advised members of the public to seek prompt medical attention at the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting or unexplained bleeding, noting that early presentation improves treatment outcomes.
Coffee intake may slow ageing in mental illness
Moderate coffee consumption may help slow biological ageing in people living with severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a new study has revealed.
The research, published in BMJ Mental Health, found that individuals with severe mental illness who drank up to four cups of coffee daily had longer telomeres — a key marker used to measure biological ageing — compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that naturally shorten as people age. Shorter telomeres have been linked to chronic stress, age-related diseases and mental health conditions, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which are often associated with reduced life expectancy.
The study, conducted by researchers at King’s College London, analysed data from 436 adults diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder with psychosis.
Participants provided information on their daily coffee intake, while researchers assessed their telomere length and accounted for factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, medication use and tobacco smoking.
Findings showed an “inverted J-shaped” relationship between coffee intake and cellular ageing.
Coffee consumption within the recommended limit of up to four cups per day was linked to longer telomeres, while higher intake did not show additional benefits.
Researchers suggested that coffee’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help protect cells from ageing-related damage, although they noted that the study did not directly measure inflammation or antioxidant levels.
They also cautioned that excessive coffee consumption could have negative health effects, including poor sleep quality, stressing that moderation remains important.
While the findings point to a possible protective role of coffee in biological ageing among people with severe mental illness, the researchers said further long-term studies are required to establish whether the relationship is causal.
