Nigeria, Feb. 27 -- Reported cases of Lassa fever are on a steady rise as the nation grapples with the challenges of stemming the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

More persons have also died of the disease since its new season began in January.

Lassa fever is an acute viral illness and a viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), whose causative agent is a single-stranded RNA virus in the arenaviridae family of the Lassa virus.

It was first reported in Lassa community in Borno State, Nigeria, when two missionary nurses died from "an unusual febrile illness".

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Lassa virus is transmitted to man by infected multi-mammate rats, the mastomys natalensi...