Lagos on High Alert as Lassa Fever Cases Surge Across Nigeria

Lagos State has raised public health alerts after Nigeria recorded over 660 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 167 deaths nationwide between January and mid-March 2026. The outbreak, spanning 22 states and 93 local government areas, has prompted authorities to launch an extensive awareness and prevention campaign.

Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi expressed alarm at infections among frontline medical staff, with 38 healthcare workers contracting the virus and three dying. He warned that the disease—transmitted mainly through contact with infected rodents or bodily fluids—poses a heightened risk in Lagos due to its dense population, despite the city not being classified as an endemic zone.

To curb potential spread, the state has activated a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre, intensified disease surveillance, and trained healthcare workers in infection control. Abayomi stressed that early detection and preventive measures remain critical, noting that around 70 per cent of infections are mild or asymptomatic yet still transmissible, particularly in urban settings.

He added that severe complications occur in roughly one in five symptomatic patients, especially when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Recent patterns suggest Lassa fever is no longer confined to seasonal peaks, with cases now emerging year-round due to environmental shifts and increased human-rodent contact.

The campaign prioritises public education, improved case management, and closer coordination with national health authorities to contain the outbreak. Officials urge residents to adopt strict hygiene practices, report symptoms promptly, and support community-level prevention efforts to limit transmission.