… 660 cases, 167 deaths nationwide; 38 health workers infected
By Chioma Obinna
The Lagos State Government on Saturday issued a public health alert on Lassa fever, announcing the commencement of a statewide awareness and prevention campaign amid rising infections across the country and the safety of frontline health workers.
The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, disclosed that Nigeria is currently battling one of its most severe outbreaks in recent years, with over 660 confirmed cases and 167 deaths recorded between January and mid-March 2026.
He revealed that the disease has spread across 22 states and 93 local government areas, describing the trend as “a serious national health concern” requiring urgent, coordinated and proactive intervention.
An alarming dimension of the outbreak, he said, is the infection of healthcare workers, noting that at least 38 personnel have contracted the virus, with three doctors losing their lives.
“When a disease begins to kill frontline workers, that is a serious warning sign,” Abayomi said. “It underscores the need for heightened vigilance, strict infection prevention protocols and rapid response systems.”
He explained that Lassa fever is a highly contagious zoonotic disease transmitted primarily from rodents and contaminated food sources to humans and can spread from person to person, often manifesting as a haemorrhagic illness capable of causing fever and internal bleeding.
Although Lagos is not classified as an endemic state and typically records only a few imported cases annually, the commissioner warned that its status as a densely populated commercial hub heightens the risk of rapid transmission.
“Every day, thousands of people move in and out of Lagos by road and air. In a megacity like ours, infectious diseases can spread very quickly if not contained early, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he noted.
Abayomi added that unlike in the past when outbreaks occurred in seasonal peaks, emerging evidence now points to year-round transmission, driven by increased human interaction with rodent reservoirs and environmental changes.
He further disclosed that about 70 per cent of infected persons may exhibit mild or no symptoms but remain infectious, posing a silent transmission threat, particularly in densely populated urban centres.
Highlighting the severity of the disease, he said one in five symptomatic patients develops serious complications that could result in death, especially where diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
The Commissioner classified Lassa fever alongside other high-risk viral diseases such as Ebola and Marburg virus disease, describing them as “pathogens of high consequence” capable of overwhelming health systems if not effectively managed.
He attributed the increasing incidence of such diseases to climate change, deforestation and ecological disruption, which are bringing rodents and other wildlife into closer contact with human populations.
To contain the threat, Abayomi said Lagos has strengthened its preparedness framework through a 24-hour emergency operations centre, improved surveillance systems, deployment of digital health tools and continuous training of healthcare workers in infection prevention and biosecurity.
“Preparedness is not panic response. It is leadership. Our focus is on early detection, rapid isolation and effective case management to prevent escalation.”
He reassured residents that the state government is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Health and partners, including Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, to strengthen response systems and expand public awareness.
According to him, the newly launched campaign will prioritise community education, capacity building for healthcare professionals and dissemination of preventive measures aimed at reducing transmission risks.
“We urge residents to remain calm but vigilant. With collective responsibility and adherence to public health guidelines, we can contain this outbreak and protect our communities,” Abayomi added.
