Lassa fever kills 70, hits 318 cases — NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 70 deaths from Lassa fever in the first seven weeks of 2026, with 318 confirmed infections recorded out of 1,469 suspected cases nationwide.

Data covering Epidemiological Weeks 1–7 (December 29, 2025 to February 15, 2026) indicated a case fatality rate of 22 per cent, while 15 healthcare workers were among those infected.

At a press briefing, the agency’s Director-General, Jide Idris, said the outbreak remains largely concentrated in a few areas, with five states accounting for the majority of confirmed cases and 10 local government areas responsible for most infections.

He explained that Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and typically peaks during the dry season between November and May, adding that early diagnosis and prompt treatment significantly improve survival.

Idris said the national Incident Management System had been activated, with weekly meetings of the National Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre underway to coordinate response efforts. Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to several affected states, including Ondo State, Edo State, Bauchi State, Taraba State, Plateau State, Benue State, and Jigawa State.

He noted that laboratory supplies, treatment medicines, personal protective equipment and other infection-prevention materials had been distributed across the country, while investigations into infections among healthcare workers were ongoing.

The agency also moved to counter misinformation, including rumours of an outbreak at a National Youth Service Corps camp in Kwara State, stating that the concern was investigated in collaboration with state authorities and addressed through coordinated communication.

According to Idris, the response is being implemented through a One Health approach involving multiple federal ministries and the National Veterinary Research Institute.

Despite ongoing interventions, the NCDC identified key challenges affecting containment, including weak state ownership of response activities, gaps in contact tracing, rising infections among healthcare workers, stigma, delayed care-seeking, funding constraints for awareness campaigns and difficulties accessing hard-to-reach or security-compromised communities.

Other concerns highlighted include infrastructure gaps in treatment centres, under-utilisation of dialysis equipment due to high service costs and inconsistent availability of protective equipment.

The agency urged state governments to strengthen active case search, improve contact tracing, expand community risk communication, address treatment cost barriers and reinforce infection-prevention measures in health facilities.

Nigerians were advised to store food in rodent-proof containers, maintain clean surroundings, block entry points against rodents, avoid drying food on bare ground and seek medical attention for persistent fever that does not respond to malaria treatment within 48 hours.

Idris emphasised that Lassa fever is preventable and treatable when detected early, noting that the national response remains active while surveillance continues nationwide.