Nigeria’s disease control agency has raised concern over operational and reporting challenges slowing the fight against Lassa fever, even as new infections continue to rise in parts of the country.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Jide Idris, said high transportation costs and weak data coordination systems are making it difficult to confirm cases quickly, especially in remote communities.
He explained that moving laboratory samples from rural areas to testing centres remains expensive and logistically demanding, delaying diagnosis and response. Although zonal laboratories have helped reduce turnaround times, he noted that performance is still uneven across states.
According to him, the agency tracks state performance using its 7-1-7 surveillance model, which measures how quickly suspected cases are detected, reported, and responded to. While some states meet these targets, others continue to lag behind.
The NCDC also expressed concern about breakdowns in communication between health institutions and state authorities. In some instances, tertiary hospitals confirmed Lassa fever cases without informing state officials, creating gaps in surveillance and response planning.
Idris warned that uncoordinated reporting and unverified data can distort the true picture of an outbreak, making it harder for health authorities to act effectively. He added that limited internet access and funding constraints in some facilities are further slowing timely reporting.
He emphasised that while the NCDC provides national coordination and technical support, effective outbreak control depends largely on how well state governments manage surveillance, reporting, and treatment at the local level.
The warning comes as the agency recorded a fresh increase in infections. Its latest situation report shows that 74 new confirmed cases were reported in one week, up significantly from 44 cases the previous week.
Health authorities say improving coordination, strengthening reporting systems, and investing in logistics will be critical to containing the spread and reducing fatalities.
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