NCDC Warns States: Prepare Now or Face Lassa Fever Surge

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised the alarm over the approaching peak season for Lassa fever, warning states and local governments that Nigeria has a narrow window to plug critical gaps in preparedness before infections begin to surge. The agency expressed deep concern over delayed presentation of patients at health facilities, infections among healthcare workers, poor sanitation and food storage practices, exposure to rodents, and what it described as inadequate ownership of outbreak preparedness by some states.

Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, who sounded the warning at a press briefing on Nigeria's preparedness for the 2026/2027 Lassa fever season, also faulted the over-reliance of some states on Federal Government resources and delays in releasing funds for outbreak response. Although Lassa fever occurs throughout the year, Idris explained that transmission usually increases during the dry season, particularly between November and April, making the weeks ahead critical to preventing another surge. "We have an opportunity to act before transmission increases. We should not wait for cases to rise before we act. The time to prepare is now," he warned.

The NCDC boss revealed that lessons from the 2026 After Action Review showed that significant weaknesses remained in the country's ability to respond effectively to outbreaks, including a troubling gap between healthcare capacity claimed to be available and what is actually functional when patients need treatment. He cited dialysis services as an example, explaining that merely having a dialysis machine at a health facility did not amount to functional capacity if trained personnel, consumables, treated water, maintenance and other requirements were unavailable. This gap between theoretical and functional capacity has been a recurring problem in Nigeria's outbreak response, often exposed during public health emergencies when facilities that were assumed to be equipped fail to deliver.

To close the identified gaps, Idris said the NCDC had developed an Accelerated Readiness Plan (ARP) to guide federal and state preparedness before the peak transmission period. The plan prioritises early detection and reporting of suspected cases, rapid investigation, faster transportation and testing of samples, infection prevention and control, functional treatment centres, and adequate stocks of medicines, laboratory materials and personal protective equipment. The NCDC will also intensify surveillance and community engagement in areas considered at higher risk.

Idris expressed particular concern about healthcare workers, warning that infection-prevention protocols must begin from the first contact with patients rather than after Lassa fever has been confirmed. He directed that every suspected infection involving a healthcare worker should be investigated, while exposed workers should be properly followed up and weaknesses that resulted in exposure immediately corrected. The continued infection of health workers is a troubling indicator of systemic failures in infection control practices, potentially compromising the ability of hospitals to respond effectively during a surge.

The NCDC boss also warned Nigerians against prolonged self-medication for suspected malaria, saying persistent fever could be an indication of a more serious infection requiring medical attention. "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," he said. This advice is particularly critical given that Lassa fever symptoms often mimic malaria in the early stages, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment that significantly reduces the chances of survival.

At the household level, Idris urged Nigerians to prevent rodents from gaining access to food by storing rice, garri, beans, maize and other items in properly covered containers. He advised households to block openings through which rodents could enter their homes, reduce clutter and dispose of refuse properly. He also warned against handling rodents with bare hands or unnecessary contact with their urine, faeces and other body fluids. These preventive measures are essential in communities where poor sanitation and food storage practices create ideal conditions for the transmission of the virus.

The NCDC, according to Idris, would intensify its "Turn a Community Orange" initiative in selected high-risk communities to promote prevention, early reporting and prompt referral of suspected cases. The agency also charged states and local governments, particularly those with recurrent transmission, to improve environmental sanitation, waste management, surveillance and laboratory referral systems before the peak season. Idris said designated treatment facilities must be made functional and supplied with medicines, laboratory materials and infection-prevention commodities before infections begin to rise.

The warning from the NCDC comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with a Lassa fever outbreak that has already claimed hundreds of lives in 2026, with the case fatality rate remaining alarmingly high compared to previous years. The agency's call for urgent and coordinated action reflects a growing recognition that reactive outbreak management is insufficient and that sustained investment in preparedness is the only way to prevent recurring public health crises. For states and local governments, the message is clear: the time to act is now, and those who fail to prepare should prepare to fail.