Lassa Fever
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 318 cases of Lassa fever and 70 related deaths across the country since the start of 2026.
The agency’s Director-General, Jide Idris, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday, noting that 1,469 suspected cases have been recorded, with a case fatality rate of 22 per cent.
Dr Idris said five states—Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Ebonyi—account for 91 per cent of confirmed infections, while 10 local government areas make up 68 per cent of cases nationwide.
To curb the outbreak, he explained that the NCDC has deployed its National Rapid Response Team to eight states, including Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Benue, Jigawa, and Plateau.
He added that the agency is working closely with state governments to strengthen disease surveillance, improve case management, and boost community engagement. “Protecting healthcare workers is a key priority,” Dr Idris said, revealing that 15 health workers have been infected so far in 2026.
He blamed low risk perception and poor infection control practices in some facilities for the rising numbers.
The NCDC also identified major challenges affecting containment efforts, such as weak contact tracing, delayed hospital visits, and inadequate state funding for prevention programmes. Dr Idris stressed the importance of active case searches, proper risk communication, and strict infection control enforcement.
He further warned against misinformation, citing a false outbreak report at a National Youth Service Corps camp in Kwara State as an example of rumours that could undermine response efforts.
Urging citizens in Nigeria to remain vigilant, Dr Idris advised people to maintain good environmental hygiene, store food properly, control rodents, and seek early medical care when symptoms appear.
Lassa fever is a viral disease transmitted mainly through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected Mastomys rats and remains endemic in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
