Case Fatality Rate Soars to 25.7%; 23 States Affected; Health Workers at Risk; Medical Academy Warns of Institutional Gaps
Nigeria has 5,034 suspected Lassa fever cases, 793 confirmed cases, and 204 deaths, according to recent NCDC data. The case fatality rate is now 25.7%, up from 19.4% in 2025.
The Academy of Medical Sciences Nigeria, alarmed by the surge, has called for urgent, coordinated national action—specifically urging government agencies and stakeholders to immediately prioritise and implement stronger measures to control and prevent further spread.
In a statement signed by its President, Prof. Obinna Onwujekwe, and Rapid Response Committee Chair, Emeritus Prof. Osato Giwa‑Osagie, the Academy warned that rising mortality and sustained transmission demand swift, decisive intervention.
Lassa fever has spread to confirmed cases across 23 states and 108 Local Government Areas. Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue contribute more than 80% of infections.
The Academy describes Lassa fever as one of Nigeria’s most significant viral haemorrhagic diseases, imposing heavy burdens through illness, deaths, economic losses, and strain on health systems.
Key drivers of the outbreak include late patient presentation, poor awareness, inadequate infection prevention practices, and environmental conditions that promote rodent infestation.
Healthcare workers continue to contract infections, which exposes gaps in protective measures.
The Academy called on the Federal Ministry of Health and state governments to take immediate, concrete action: strengthen surveillance by deploying more rapid-response teams, expand treatment centres to cover underprivileged regions, and increase laboratory capacity through the provision of resources and training.
It also stressed the need for timely, sufficient supplies of Personal Safety Equipment and insisted that all healthcare facilities enforce strict infection control protocols without delay.
For the public, the Academy advised clear actions: store food in rodent‑proof containers, maintain regular environmental sanitation, and avoid direct or indirect contact with rodents.
It urged Nigerians with persistent fever or symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever to seek prompt medical attention at approved health facilities rather than self-medicate, emphasising that early presentation can save lives and lower transmission.
Past immediate containment, the Academy called for greater investment in infectious disease research, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
“Early detection, prompt treatment, effective infection control, environmental sanitation, and sustained government commitment remain the most effective tools for reducing the burden of Lassa fever in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.