Lassa Fever: NCDC Urges Proactive Measures To Stem Transmission

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has appealed to Nigerians to adopt proactive measures against Lassa fever, warning that sustained public awareness, good hygiene practices and early healthcare seeking remain critical to curbing transmission of the disease.

NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 23 (June 1–7, 2026) showed that the country has recorded 855 confirmed cases and 214 deaths, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 25.0 per cent—higher than the 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

According to the report, 23 states have reported at least one confirmed case across 109 Local Government Areas, with Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo states accounting for 84 per cent of all confirmed infections this year.

While the number of new confirmed cases remained unchanged from the previous reporting week, NCDC stressed that preventing new infections requires greater public participation through improved environmental sanitation and prompt reporting of symptoms.

The agency advised Nigerians to keep their homes and surroundings clean, store food in rodent-proof containers, dispose of refuse properly and avoid contact with rats, which are the primary carriers of the virus.

It also urged members of the public to seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms such as persistent fever, weakness, headache, sore throat or unexplained bleeding, noting that early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve survival.

The report identified people aged 21 to 30 years as the most affected age group, highlighting the need for targeted awareness campaigns among young adults.

In a positive development, the NCDC reported that no new healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week, suggesting that infection prevention and control measures in health facilities are helping to reduce hospital-based transmission.

The agency reiterated that Lassa fever is primarily spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats, although human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings without adequate infection control measures.

As the outbreak continues, the NCDC called on state governments, communities, health workers and the public to work together to strengthen surveillance, improve environmental hygiene and encourage early treatment, stressing that preventing infections remains the most effective strategy for reducing illness and deaths from Lassa fever.