By Tracy Moses
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has commenced an accelerated preparedness drive against a possible seasonal surge in Lassa fever, urging state governments and healthcare facilities to strengthen surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and infection prevention ahead of the peak transmission period.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing on Lassa fever prevention and preparedness for the 2026/2027 season.
Idris said although Lassa fever occurs throughout the year, transmission typically increases during the dry season, particularly between November and April. He said the period before the expected peak was therefore critical for states and healthcare facilities to strengthen their response capacity.
He said the NCDC’s Accelerated Readiness Plan was developed following an After Action Review of the 2026 Lassa fever response involving the agency, state governments and development partners.
According to him, the review identified several gaps requiring urgent attention, including delays in seeking medical care, self-treatment, infections among healthcare workers, environmental and household risks, inadequate state ownership and delays in releasing resources for preparedness.
The review also revealed a gap between healthcare capacity available “on paper” and what is actually functional in health facilities.
“For example, having a dialysis machine does not mean dialysis is available if the trained personnel, consumables, water treatment, maintenance and other requirements needed to operate it are not in place,” Idris said.
He said lessons from the 2026 response underscored the need for states and health facilities to strengthen the entire Lassa fever response chain, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, referral and treatment.
“We must look at the entire pathway, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, referral and treatment, and ensure that the systems, services and resources that are expected to be available can actually function when and where they are needed,” he said.
Idris said the readiness plan would be implemented nationwide, with additional resources directed to areas where available evidence indicates that the burden and risk of Lassa fever are highest.
He listed priority interventions to include early detection and reporting of suspected cases, prompt investigation, improved environmental sanitation and waste management, safer food handling and storage, and measures to reduce exposure to rodents.
The NCDC boss particularly urged states with recurrent Lassa fever transmission to use the pre-peak period to strengthen surveillance systems, laboratory referral pathways and designated treatment centres.
He also called on state and local governments to engage environmental health officers and community structures, improve waste management, and ensure that essential medicines, laboratory supplies and infection prevention commodities are available in health facilities before cases begin to increase.
“Preparedness is most effective when we act before the pressure on our health system rises,” he said.
Beyond state-level preparedness, Idris said the NCDC would intensify infection prevention and control measures in high-risk healthcare facilities, including through its IPC Ring Strategy.
He stressed that healthcare workers must adopt appropriate precautions from the first point of contact with patients rather than waiting until Lassa fever has been confirmed.
“Appropriate precautions should begin from the first point of contact with a patient and not only after Lassa fever has been confirmed,” he said.
The NCDC director-general said designated treatment centres would be prepared to receive and manage patients, while essential medicines, laboratory supplies and personal protective equipment would be made available where required.
He added that every Lassa fever infection involving a healthcare worker must be investigated, while exposed workers should be appropriately monitored and identified gaps addressed.
“We must learn from each healthcare worker infection and use what we learn to prevent another,” Idris said.
He urged healthcare workers to adopt the message: “THINK LASSA. PROTECT. REPORT. REFER.”
Idris also urged Nigerians to seek medical attention early whenever they developed fever or felt unwell, particularly those living in or travelling from areas where Lassa fever transmission is prevalent.
He warned against prolonged self-treatment for malaria, saying persistent symptoms after treatment should prompt medical evaluation.
“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. Early recognition and appropriate treatment can make a significant difference,” he said.
The NCDC chief said prevention efforts must also extend to households and communities, given the role of environmental and rodent-related risks in Lassa fever transmission.
He advised Nigerians to store rice, garri, beans, maize and other food items in properly covered containers to prevent contamination by rodents, their urine and faeces.
He also urged households to block openings through which rodents could enter homes, remove clutter and potential hiding places, dispose of refuse properly and avoid handling rodents with bare hands.
According to him, the scale of the risk makes collaboration beyond the health sector essential.
He advocated a One Health approach involving the health, environment, agriculture and livestock sectors, local governments, communities and development partners to address the environmental and animal-health factors associated with Lassa fever.
The agency, he said, would also intensify its Turn a Community Orange (TACO) initiative in selected high-risk communities to promote preventive behaviours, improve preparedness and encourage early reporting and referral.
Idris disclosed that the NCDC would continue research into changing patterns in the epidemiology of Lassa fever, including investigations into whether rodents other than Mastomys could contribute to transmission and the possible role of asymptomatic infections.
He said genomic sequencing would also be deployed to improve understanding of emerging transmission patterns, while the agency would continue supporting efforts towards the development of candidate Lassa fever vaccines and rapid diagnostic tests.
The NCDC DG urged Nigerians to remember five key preventive measures: “Protect your food. Keep rodents away. Keep your surroundings clean. Avoid unsafe contact with rodents. Seek care early.”
He said Nigeria had a window of opportunity to strengthen its preparedness before the seasonal increase in transmission, stressing that waiting for cases to rise before acting could place unnecessary pressure on the health system.
“We should not wait for cases to rise before we act. The time to prepare is now,” Idris said.