Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41827052›Full record

ArticleTropical diseases, travel medicine and vaccines2026

Impact of seasonal changes on the epidemiology of Lassa fever in a state in North Central, Nigeria.

Onuche Noah John, Adamu Ishaku Akyala, Grace Itodo Eleojo, Stephen Olaide Aremu, Adams Okur Matthew, Oli Peggy Elam, Arinze Joseph Ezeobi, Ojotule Augustine, Segun Barnabas, Umameh Augustine and 6 more

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Article in Tropical diseases, travel medicine and vaccines, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Onuche Noah JohnGlobal Health and Infectious Disease Control Institute, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1038-9852
Adamu Ishaku AkyalaGlobal Health and Infectious Disease Control Institute, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4168-6104
Grace Itodo EleojoFederal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Stephen Olaide AremuGlobal Health and Infectious Disease Control Institute, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7473-7254
Adams Okur MatthewGlobal Health and Infectious Disease Control Institute, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Oli Peggy ElamGlobal Health and Infectious Disease Control Institute, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Arinze Joseph EzeobiGlobal Health and Infectious Disease Control Institute, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Ojotule AugustineKogi State Ministry of Health, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Segun BarnabasKogi State Ministry of Health, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Umameh AugustineKogi State Ministry of Health, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Oluwatoyin Joy AyoNational Blood Service Agency, Abuja, Nigeria.
Khadijat MohammedKogi State Ministry of Health, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Arome John AmehKogi State Ministry of Health, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Michael Sule OhizeNigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria.
Omale Shuaibu ThankgodNational Blood Service Agency, Abuja, Nigeria.
Abdillahi Abdi BarkhadleRift Valley University, Jimma, Ethiopia. abdiabdibarkhadle@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-7835-7562

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLassa fever is a recurrent public health threat in Nigeria, particularly in endemic regions such as Kogi State. Its transmission is closely tied to environmental and seasonal dynamics, especially those influencing rodent populations. Understanding these climatic influences is essential for strengthening disease surveillance and implementing timely interventions.

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using retrospective epidemiological and climatic data from 2019 to 2024. Confirmed Lassa fever case records and meteorological variables (temperature, rainfall, and humidity) were analyzed using statistical correlation, regression models, and geospatial mapping.

resultsA consistent seasonal trend was observed, with the majority of cases occurring during the dry season (November–March), peaking in January 2022 and February 2024. Temperature showed a statistically significant positive correlation with Lassa fever incidence (r = 0.282, p = 0.029). Rainfall and humidity displayed weak or non-significant associations, though brief case surges followed isolated rainfall spikes in dry months. Spatial analysis identified Lokoja, Ibaji, and Dekina LGAs as hotspots, likely due to population density, food storage practices, and improved reporting. The regression model yielded modest explanatory power (R² = 0.089), but thresholds such as temperature > 35 °C and humidity between 60 and 80% emerged as potential early warning indicators.

conclusionSeasonal variation, particularly elevated temperatures during the dry season, plays a significant role in Lassa fever incidence in Kogi State. Integrating climatic, ecological, and epidemiological data into a real-time risk alert system under a One Health framework could enhance preparedness and response in high-risk areas. CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER: Not applicable.

Identifiers

PMID41827052
PMCPMC12983630

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.