The Lagos State Government has raised the alarm over the surge in Lassa fever cases across the country, launching an aggressive statewide awareness and prevention campaign as the outbreak intensifies and begins to claim the lives of frontline health workers.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, at the campaign’s kickoff, revealed that the country has recorded more than 660 confirmed cases and 167 deaths between January and mid-March 2026, one of the most severe outbreaks in recent years.

Describing the situation as a “serious national health concern”, Abayomi warned that the disease has already spread across 22 states and 93 local government areas, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action at all levels.

He noted that the growing number of infections among healthcare workers is troubling. According to him, at least 38 medical personnel have contracted the virus, with three doctors already dead, a development he described as a critical warning sign. “When a disease begins to kill frontline workers, it signals a dangerous escalation,” he said, calling for strict adherence to infection prevention protocols and heightened vigilance across health facilities.

According to experts, Lassa fever, a highly contagious viral disease transmitted primarily from rodents to humans and then between people, can cause severe haemorrhagic illness marked by fever and internal bleeding. “While many infected individuals show mild or no symptoms, they remain capable of spreading the virus, creating a silent but dangerous chain of transmission.”

Though Lagos is not traditionally an endemic state, its dense population and constant inflow of people place it at significant risk. Abayomi warned that the city’s status as a major commercial hub makes rapid transmission a real threat if early containment measures fail. “In a megacity like Lagos, infectious diseases can spread very quickly if not contained early,” he said, drawing parallels with past public health emergencies.

He also raised concerns over changing disease patterns, noting that Lassa fever is no longer strictly seasonal, with evidence now pointing to year-round transmission driven by environmental changes and increased human contact with rodent carriers.

Health experts estimate that while most cases are mild, about one in five symptomatic patients develops severe complications that can lead to death, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

The Commissioner further classified Lassa fever among a group of high-risk pathogens capable of overwhelming health systems, alongside other deadly viral diseases, warning that factors such as climate change, deforestation and ecological disruption are accelerating their spread.

“In response, Lagos has activated its preparedness systems, including a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre, enhanced surveillance, digital health tools and ongoing training for healthcare workers in infection control and biosecurity. Preparedness is not a panic response. It is leadership,” Abayomi said, stressing that the state’s strategy focuses on early detection, rapid isolation and effective case management.

He reassured residents that authorities are working closely with national and international partners to strengthen response mechanisms, urging the public to remain calm but alert. “The awareness campaign, now underway across the state, aims to educate communities, equip healthcare workers and promote preventive practices as Lagos races to stay ahead of a fast-evolving public health threat.” (The Sun)

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