Abuja: The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, has urged Nigerians to begin preparations against Lassa fever before infections rise during the approaching dry season. Idris emphasized at a news conference in Abuja that early action by the government, health workers, communities, and households is essential to reducing infections and preventing avoidable deaths.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Idris noted that while Lassa fever occurs throughout the year, cases tend to increase during the dry season, particularly between November and April. The period before the seasonal peak provides an important opportunity to strengthen prevention measures, improve preparedness, and ensure health facilities can respond effectively. He highlighted lessons from the 2026 Lassa fever response, which revealed several challenges that need urgent attention, particularly delays in seeking care and healthcare worker infections.
Delays in seeking appropriate medical care remain a major challenge, with some patients self-treating or visiting multiple healthcare providers before receiving proper care. Continued infections among healthcare workers, especially when health facilities are under pressure, were also identified as a concern. Idris pointed out persistent environmental and household risks, such as poor sanitation, unsafe food storage, and exposure to rodents, as significant contributors to Lassa fever transmission.
Limited state ownership, over-reliance on national resources, and delays in releasing funds required for preparedness activities are major challenges affecting effective response efforts. Idris also noted a gap between the healthcare capacity available on paper and what is functional when facilities need to manage Lassa fever patients. He mentioned that dialysis machines provided to some high-burden states were not always used for Lassa fever patients, with some facilities deploying them for other medical conditions.
Idris emphasized the need to strengthen the entire healthcare pathway, from prevention and early detection through diagnosis, referral, and treatment. The agency’s accelerated readiness plan will focus on actions required between now and the expected peak of Lassa fever transmission across the country. The plan will be implemented nationwide, with additional attention and resources directed to areas with a higher burden of the disease.
One priority is to detect cases earlier, ensure suspected infections are reported promptly, and address laboratory requirements needed for effective diagnosis and response. Idris called for stronger measures to reduce rodent exposure through improved environmental sanitation, proper waste management, and safer food handling and storage. Environmental health officers, agriculture officials, and livestock personnel have important roles in preventing and controlling Lassa fever transmission.
Healthcare providers are urged to recognize suspected Lassa fever cases early, protect themselves from infection, report cases promptly, and ensure patients are appropriately referred for further management. Idris stressed the importance of efficient laboratory systems, with samples needing to be transported and tested quickly, and results returned to healthcare providers without unnecessary delays.
Idris also highlighted the need to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, urging healthcare workers to take appropriate precautions from the first point of contact. Treatment centres must remain ready to receive and properly manage patients, while states should ensure essential medicines, laboratory supplies, and protective equipment are available. States are urged to investigate every healthcare worker infection, follow up with exposed workers, and promptly address gaps identified during investigations to prevent further transmission within health facilities.
Idris advised households to protect food by storing rice, gari, beans, maize, and other food items in properly covered containers inaccessible to rodents. He recommended residents block openings through which rodents could enter homes, reduce clutter, and eliminate conditions that provide rodents with hiding places. Nigerians are encouraged to keep homes, markets, and other surroundings clean, dispose of refuse properly, and avoid direct contact with rodents, their urine, faeces, and body fluids.
He advised people who develop fever or feel unwell, particularly those living in or traveling from areas where Lassa fever occurs, to seek appropriate medical care promptly. Idris warned against prolonged self-treatment for presumed malaria, stressing that persistent symptoms require medical evaluation because not every fever is caused by malaria.
Mr. Sanitarian Collins, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer, Ministry of Environment, also spoke, saying the ministry collaborates with NCDC to prevent Lassa fever through improved sanitation and rodent control. Collins urged Nigerians to clear surrounding bushes, maintain clean environments, and adopt preventive measures before the peak transmission period to reduce conditions that encourage rodents to thrive. Prevention is more effective and less costly than waiting until cases increase, as late presentation often means patients arrive at treatment centres with serious complications.