Lassa Fever: Protect Food, Environment, NCDC Advises Nigerians Ahead Of Peak Period

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has admonished Nigerians to protect their food, keep their surroundings clean and prevent rodents from gaining access to their homes as the country prepares for the peak period of Lassa fever transmission.

The director-general of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, gave the piece of advice yesterday during a press briefing on Lassa fever prevention and preparedness for the 2026/2027 season.

He said although Lassa fever occurs throughout the year, cases usually increase during the dry season, particularly between November and April.

He said the period before the peak provides an opportunity for individuals, households, communities and governments to take preventive action before transmission increases.

Idris also advised Nigerians to store rice, garri, beans, maize and other food items in properly covered containers and ensure that food is not left in places where rodents can contaminate it.

He warned against drying food on bare ground or in places where it could come into contact with rodents, their urine or faeces.

According to him, households should also block openings through which rodents can enter their homes, reduce clutter that provides hiding places for rodents and ensure that rodent-control measures used around homes are safe and appropriate.

“Keep your surroundings clean. Dispose of refuse properly and keep homes, markets and other surroundings clean,” he said.

Idris stressed that environmental sanitation was not solely the responsibility of households, saying state and local governments also had important roles to play in waste management and maintaining clean public spaces.

He further advised Nigerians to avoid handling rodents with bare hands and to avoid unnecessary contact with their urine, faeces, and other body fluids.

The NCDC boss urged anyone who develops a fever or feels unwell, particularly those living in or who have travelled to areas where Lassa fever occurs, to seek medical attention promptly.

He specifically warned against prolonged self-medication for malaria when symptoms persist. “If you have treated what you believe to be malaria and your symptoms persist, please do not continue treating yourself at home. Seek appropriate medical attention,” Idris said.

The warning followed lessons from Nigeria’s 2026 Lassa fever response, which the NCDC said exposed persistent household and environmental risks, including poor sanitation, unsafe food storage and exposure to rodents.

An After-Action Review conducted by NCDC, states, and partners also identified delayed care-seeking, self-treatment, infections among healthcare workers, and inadequate preparedness at some state and health-facility levels.

Idris said the agency had consequently developed an Accelerated Readiness Plan to strengthen preparedness ahead of the next peak season.

The plan will focus on early detection and reporting of cases, rapid investigation, laboratory testing, appropriate referral and treatment, infection prevention and control, availability of medicines and protective equipment, and stronger coordination among relevant sectors.

He said the response would be guided by a One Health approach involving the health, environment, agriculture, livestock, local government and community sectors.

In selected high-risk communities, he added that NCDC would intensify the Turn a Community Orange (TACO) approach to encourage preventive behaviours, strengthen preparedness and promote early reporting and referral.

Idris said the NCDC would also continue to support research into the changing epidemiology of Lassa fever, including genomic sequencing to understand transmission patterns and efforts to develop candidate vaccines and rapid diagnostic tests.

He called on states and local governments, particularly those with recurrent Lassa fever transmission, to strengthen environmental sanitation, surveillance, laboratory referral systems and treatment facilities before cases increase.

Also speaking, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Collins Okenyi, described environmental sanitation as a critical component of Lassa fever prevention. He urged Nigerians to keep their surroundings clean, clear bushes around their homes, and ensure that houses are properly screened to prevent rodents from gaining access.

The Deputy Director, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Mairo Kachalla, said the government was also concerned about the possible role of rodents other than Mastomys in the transmission of Lassa fever.

She said that while Mastomys remained the primary suspected reservoir, further research was needed to determine whether other rodents and domestic animals could contribute to transmission.

Kachalla said the livestock ministry’s interventions are currently focused on food safety, particularly the safe processing of bush meat and rodents consumed by some communities.

Representing the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ogundare Oluwatosin said the ministry would raise awareness among farmers about proper storage of grains and other farm produce.

He said the ministry was developing a platform called Plant Doctor to reach farmers through clusters and cooperatives and to improve awareness of safe agricultural practices.