Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC2025375 (Oral 061) | Published: 14 Aug 2025
Olubunmi Omowumi Olopha1,2, Yetunde Abioye1,2, Olajumoke Adaramola1,2, Abiodun Egwuenu1,2, Dupe Arinola Hambolu3,4, Yandoma Rabilu Iliaysu3, Janet Namugenyi3, Ayokunle Bodunde Imoleyin2,5, Gbenga Joseph1,2, Chuka Ikejiaku4, Stephen Oyegoke Fagbemi2,6, Gboyega Adekunle Famokun2,6, Oladipupo Banji Ipadeola2, Olukemi Yetunde Falade1,2, Henry Abah Nweke1,2, Ibraheem Ademola Adebayo7, Mie Okamura2,7
1Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria, 2Lassa Fever Technical Working Group, Nigeria, 3Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria, 4Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Abuja, Nigeria, 5Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja, Nigeria, 6Ministry of Health, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, 7World Health Organization, Abuja, Nigeria
&Corresponding author: Olubunmi Omowumi Olopha, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 801 Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria. Email: Olubunmi.olopha@ncdc.gov.ng
Received: 17 May 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 14 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Bottlenecks and Enablers, 7-1-7 Targets, Lassa Fever outbreak
©Olubunmi Omowumi Olopha et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Olubunmi Omowumi Olopha et al., Identifying bottlenecks and enablers in achieving 7-1-7 targets during the 2025 Lassa Fever outbreak: Lessons from Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00061. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00061
Lassa fever (LF) remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, with Ondo State accounting for 30% of confirmed cases by epi-week 19, 2025. To strengthen outbreak management, NCDC adopted the 7-1-7 target: detect within 7-days, notify within 1-day, and respond within 7 days. Despite investments in response systems, many states struggle to meet these benchmarks. A 2025 field investigation in Ondo State examined key bottlenecks and enablers affecting outbreak management in the state.
We investigated the Lassa fever outbreak in Ondo State (Jan–Feb 2025) using the 7-1-7 framework. Data on emergence, detection, notification, and response were collected through document review and key informant interviews. Outbreak timelines captured intervals from symptom onset to detection, notification, and response. Thematic analysis identified system, resource, communication, and governance factors affecting achievement of 7-1-7 targets.
Of the three 7-1-7 targets, only the one-day notification target was met. Detection and early response exceeded the 7-day targets, taking 13 and 22 days respectively. Challenges to achieving 7-1-7 targets were system, governance and communication related. Key system-related challenges were denial, low risk perception; Governance-related included poor funding leading to weak IMS coordination, weak government ownership, and over-reliance on partners’ support and communication-related were misinformation, poor stakeholder collaboration, and unclear roles and responsibilities among the key stakeholders. As of epi week 6, of the 140 confirmed, representing 29% of suspected, 6% were HCWs and CFR was 13.6%.
While notification was timely, delays in detection and early response persisted. We recommend strengthening targeted RCCE to improve health literacy, trust, and early care-seeking. Ensuring accessible emergency funds and advocating for adoption of SHSAPs aligned with national priorities by policymakers will promote local ownership and improve timely response to LF and other epidemic-prone diseases at subnational levels.
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