Lassa fever alert

Effective waste management and improved sanitation are vital to checking its spread

“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,” Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, explained, on April 11,  while launching a statewide awareness and prevention campaign amid rising national cases of Lassa fever.

The state’s preemptive response to one of the country’s most severe Lassa fever outbreaks in recent years is commendable. According to him, more than 660 confirmed cases and 167 deaths were recorded nationwide between January and mid-March 2026. He described the outbreak as “a serious national health concern.”

Since 2020, the “Lassa map” of Nigeria has grown from a handful of endemic spots to nearly every state in the country. It is also disturbing that Lassa fever is moving away from purely seasonal peaks toward year-round transmission.

As of mid-April 2026, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had reported over 680 confirmed cases and 170 deaths across 22 states. The mortality rate this year is notably higher than in 2025, with about 84 percent of cases concentrated in five states: Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo.

It is troubling that the outbreak has hit health workers hard, with 38 medical personnel contracting the virus and three doctors dying, signalling a critical escalation. “When a disease begins to kill frontline workers, that is a serious warning sign,” Abayomi noted.

The state’s strategy is focused on early detection, rapid isolation and effective case management to prevent outbreaks before they escalate. Apart from a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre, Lagos authorities have stepped up surveillance, enhanced infection control in health facilities, and are warning residents to keep their environments free of rodents (which spread the virus via urine/faeces).

Lagos faces a high risk due to its population density which can make infectious diseases spread rapidly.  The commissioner stated that the Lagos State Government is working closely with the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and partners including Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, to strengthen response systems and public awareness.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, and humans usually become infected through exposure to food or household items contaminated with saliva, urine or droppings of infected Mastomys rats.

Also, about 80 percent of people who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms. One in five infections result in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys.

Lassa fever usually starts with fever and general weakness. After a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow.

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Although the disease is treatable—Ribavirin is the specific antiviral drug for Lassa fever—clinical intervention is only half the battle. The disease is deeply tied to environmental habits and cultural practices, making awareness and enlightenment imperative.

Lassa fever can be prevented by improving hygiene, including food hygiene and food protection practices. Importantly, members of the public are urged to avoid contact with rodents, particularly rats, as well as food contaminated by rat’s secretions and excretions. It isn’t enough for people to know Lassa fever exists; they need to be aware that the risk is personal and preventable.

Indeed, preventing the fever is as much the duty of the health authorities as it is the responsibility of the public. Beyond prevention, early diagnosis is considered important in the treatment of the illness.

Improved sanitation and robust waste management systems are indispensable in the fight against Lassa fever, as they eliminate the conditions that allow the Mastomys rats to thrive.

Ultimately, enlightenment transforms a passive population dependent on clinical cures into an active frontline capable of preventing the infection at its source.