Lassa Fever: Abayomi Warns Of Severe Outbreak, Expands Emergency Preparedness In Lagos

Lagos State Government has alerted residents to the threat of Lassa fever, announcing the launch of a statewide awareness and prevention campaign amid rising cases across Nigeria and growing concerns over infections among healthcare workers.

The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, warned that Nigeria is currently facing one of its most severe outbreaks in recent years, with more than 660 confirmed cases and 167 deaths recorded between January and mid-March 2026.

He said the outbreak has spread across 22 states and 93 local government areas, describing the situation as a serious national health concern requiring urgent, coordinated and proactive action at both federal and state levels.

Abayomi identified the infection of frontline health workers as a particularly alarming dimension, noting that at least 38 healthcare personnel have contracted the disease, with three doctors losing their lives since the beginning of the year. He stressed that such developments call for heightened vigilance, strict infection prevention protocols and rapid response systems.

He explained that Lassa fever is a highly contagious zoonotic viral disease transmitted primarily from rodents—and sometimes bushmeat—to humans, with the potential for human-to-human transmission. The disease often presents as a haemorrhagic illness, causing fever and, in severe cases, internal bleeding.

Although Lagos is not classified as an endemic state and typically records only a few imported cases annually, the Commissioner warned that its dense population and status as a commercial hub increase the risk of rapid spread. He added that increased human interaction with rodent reservoirs and environmental changes are contributing to a shift toward year-round transmission.

He further noted that about 70 per cent of infected individuals show mild or no symptoms but remain infectious, posing a silent transmission risk. He added that roughly one in five symptomatic patients develops severe complications that may prove fatal, especially when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

To mitigate the risks, Abayomi said the state has strengthened its preparedness through a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre, enhanced surveillance, digital health tools and continuous training of healthcare workers. He added that the government is working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Federal Ministry of Health and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, while the new campaign will focus on public education, professional training and community awareness to curb transmission.