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.

It expressed concern over delayed presentation of patients at health facilities, infections among healthcare workers, poor sanitation and food storage, exposure to rodents and what it described as inadequate ownership of outbreak preparedness by some states.

Director-General of 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 said 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.

According to him, 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.

Idris 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.

To close the identified gaps, he said NCDC had developed an Accelerated Readiness Plan (ARP) to guide federal and state preparedness before the peak transmission period.

The plan would prioritise 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.

NCDC would 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 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.

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.

Households, he added, should 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.

NCDC, according to him, would intensify its “Turn a Community Orange” initiative in selected high-risk communities to promote prevention, early reporting and prompt referral of suspected cases.

Idris 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.

He said designated treatment facilities must also be made functional and supplied with medicines, laboratory materials and infection-prevention commodities before infections begin to rise.

Beyond immediate preparedness, Idris said NCDC would continue research into the changing epidemiology of Lassa fever, including the possible involvement of rodents other than Mastomys and the role of asymptomatic infections in transmission.

The agency would also support genomic sequencing, research into candidate Lassa fever vaccines and development of rapid diagnostic tests.

Idris stressed that containing the disease could not be left to the health sector alone, calling for coordinated action involving the environment, agriculture and livestock sectors, local governments and communities.

“The time to prepare is now,” he reiterated. (The Sun)