The cost of treating a single case of Lassa fever without subsidy is more than five times higher than Nigeria’s official minimum monthly wage, making it unaffordable for many households, experts have said.
Experts warn that the high expenditure required for treatment can be devastating for patients, pushing households into financial ruin and discouraging investors and businesses from operating in affected regions.
Late-stage pregnancy infections carry particularly high fatality rates. Diagnosis is also difficult, and early supportive care is critical for survival.
A 2020 study titled Medical Cost of Lassa Fever Treatment in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria found that the average total direct cost of treatment was ₦86,802.63 per patient with subsidies, and ₦205,558.99 per patient without subsidies.
Medications made up the largest share of unsubsidized payments (₦86,929.55; 42.10%), while hospital care was the highest component of subsidized costs (₦19,756.51; 22.76%). The study noted that up to 84.28% of medication and 70.8% of investigations were subsidized, making an overall subsidy of 57.77% in the average payments per patient.
A Guinean public health consultant, According to Dr. Mohamed Lamine Drame said, the cost of treating Lassa fever is very high compared to Ebola and TB, despite the fear these other diseases generate.
Speaking during the African Health Economics and Policy Association (AFHEA) “Counting the Lassa Fever Costs” panel session at the West African Health Organization (WAHO) Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, Dr. Drame said the economic burden underscores the challenges patients face in accessing care.
He explained that even with subsidies on medications and investigations, treatment remains expensive, contributing to a wider economic impact that includes disruptions to local economies, industry shutdowns, and rising healthcare costs.
“A silent predator lurks in rural communities, periodically emerging to wreak havoc on human lives and healthcare systems. This formidable foe is Lassa fever,” Dr. Drame warned.
“Unfortunately, we don’t make noise about it because it isn’t explosive. Its cost is much higher when compared to Ebola and TB. If we are not careful to start taking real steps, we risk neglecting this burden. It is silent, but it is a great threat,” he added.
Like other hemorrhagic fevers, Lassa fever can be prevented and controlled through public awareness, rodent control, food hygiene, and health education.
However, no vaccine is currently available, though development is underway. Due to limited resources for diagnosis and weak surveillance systems, many cases go unrecorded, despite the disease’s considerable impact in endemic regions of West Africa.
Executive Director of the African Health Economics and Policy Association and founding co-editor-in-chief of the SSM-Health Systems journal, Prof. John Ele-Ojo Ataguba, emphasized the intangible costs of the disease that are often overlooked.
“Avoiding infected persons for fear of infection, the stress of ensuring patients receive care, and the long-term complications all come with costs that are rarely accounted for,” he said.
“The death of a Lassa fever patient cannot be quantified. Survivors may face lasting health problems that reduce their quality of life. These are costs that cannot be priced. We must look beyond direct and indirect costs.”
Prof. Ataguba said researchers must begin translating their studies into monetary value and show how their findings affect a country’s GDP over time, rather than focusing only on the number of deaths.
According to him, death is common and may not carry much weight unless it is linked to economic growth or decline.
“You can’t convince the minister of finance by just saying that people are dying, please give me money. He or she doesn’t know what you’re talking about. How we communicate this to the minister of finance is important,” he stated.
He urged researchers to communicate more effectively and make an investment case for Lassa fever by demonstrating that if nothing is done, a certain percentage of GDP will be lost.
“That’s huge for a minister of finance. But if you tell the minister that last year we lost about 3,000 women, what is he going to do? You’ve only given him information,” he explained.
Prof. Ataguba also cited situations where everyone discusses health issues in silos, seeking solutions in isolation. He said tackling each condition separately may not bring the desired results. Instead, he urged the region to move beyond silo-based decision-making and adopt a systems approach.
“Let’s put together all resources to deal with health challenges at once through a health insurance benefit package that covers pandemics and epidemics, rather than saying health insurance for Lassa fever, another for malaria, TB, or HIV,” he suggested.
Experts at the conference called for stronger regional cooperation in both financial and health systems. They urged countries to share experiences in laboratories, medicine, and other areas to fight epidemics more effectively.
A lecturer and researcher at the National University of Agriculture in Benin, Dr. Ines Djohodo Monwanou, stressed the need for regional coordination to strengthen the collective response.
“Diseases know no borders, so our epidemiological strength becomes greater when we act together,” she said.
She added that establishing regional centers of excellence would improve outbreak response:
“Instead of acting alone, we must join forces. Regional cooperation helps manage essential drugs, build resilience, and protect our communities.”