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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has expressed concern over the rising cases of Lassa fever and deaths in this year’s peak period, particularly among health workers.
The NCDC, in a statement by its Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, yesterday, noted that as of Epidemiological Week 8, 2026, Nigeria has recorded a concerning number of Lassa fever cases and deaths involving 18 states and 67 LGAs.
It disclosed that five states, notably, Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue accounted for over 80 percent of the confirmed cases, and of particular concern was the increase in infections among healthcare workers.
It confirmed that so far, 28 confirmed infections and three deaths have been recorded this season among health workers.
NCDC said the increasing number of healthcare worker infections is particularly concerning and underscores the urgent need for strict adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) standards, heightened clinical suspicion, and early case identification across all health facilities.
It noted that Lassa fever follows a predictable seasonal and geographic pattern in Nigeria, and that high-burden states are known, peak months are well documented, and national clinical and IPC guidelines are also established.
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“Current surveillance and field assessments indicate that transmission is occurring largely within known endemic areas. However, recent investigations have highlighted operational gaps that are contributing to ongoing transmission and higher mortality.
“These include infections occurring in general outpatient and maternity settings of health facilities; suboptimal adherence to IPC protocols; inadequate pre-positioning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); delayed patient presentation; inconsistent activation or monitoring of state incident management systems; gaps in contact tracing and active case search in some LGAs; persistent stigma and misconceptions affecting early care-seeking; and management of cases in isolation centres that do not fully meet recommended standards. These findings underscore the importance of sustained implementation of existing response frameworks,” NCDC noted.
It, however, promised to continue to provide comprehensive national support and coordination across the response spectrum insisting that sustainable reduction in mortality and the prevention of healthcare worker infections require strengthened implementation, accountability, and timely resource prioritisation at the state level.
NCDC thus urged all state governments to prioritise IPC measures to reduce transmission, protect healthcare workers, and lower mortality during this peak transmission period.
It also asked them to ensure full activation and monitoring of the state incident management systems in affected and high risk states; urgently approve and release outbreak preparedness and response funds to support surveillance activities, pillar coordination, mobility of field teams, laboratory operations, logistics, IPC, case management, community awareness campaign activities by actively engaging traditional, religious and community leaders to reinforce behaviour.
NCDC also advocated state-wide enforcement of IPC and compliance across all public and private health facilities; ensure continuous availability of PPEs and other critical supplies in high-burden LGAs; accelerate financial protection mechanisms to reduce late presentation and high Case Fatality Rate (CFR); institutionalize and intensify rodent control, environmental sanitation and food storage practices in endemic areas using the One Health platform, that is involving the relevant ministries, including environment and agriculture, not only health.
