The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that more than 660 confirmed cases and 167 deaths were recorded nationwide between January and mid-March 2026, describing the situation as a “serious national health concern” requiring urgent and sustained intervention.
Speaking during a public health alert on Saturday, the commissioner announced the rollout of a statewide awareness and prevention campaign, warning that the increasing spread of the disease across 22 states and 93 local government areas signals a widening outbreak with significant public health implications.
A particularly concerning aspect of the current wave, according to Abayomi, is the infection of frontline healthcare workers. He revealed that at least 38 medical personnel have contracted the virus since the beginning of the year, with three doctors losing their lives, underscoring the occupational risks facing the health sector.
“When a disease begins to kill frontline workers, that is a serious warning sign,” he said, stressing the need for strict adherence to infection prevention protocols and stronger emergency response systems.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease primarily transmitted from rodents to humans through contaminated food or contact with infected animals, can also spread between people. The commissioner warned that Lagos, though not an endemic state, remains highly vulnerable due to its dense population and constant inflow of people through road and air travel.
He cautioned that unlike earlier patterns where outbreaks were largely seasonal, recent evidence suggests year-round transmission, driven in part by environmental changes, increased human contact with rodent habitats, and urban expansion.
Health officials further noted that a significant proportion of infected individuals may show mild or no symptoms, increasing the risk of undetected community spread, particularly in crowded urban centres such as Lagos. Among symptomatic patients, however, the disease can rapidly progress to severe complications, with a notable proportion resulting in death if treatment is delayed.
The commissioner classified Lassa fever alongside other high-consequence viral diseases such as Ebola and Marburg virus disease, warning that such pathogens have the potential to overwhelm health systems without early detection and coordinated containment efforts.
He also pointed to broader environmental drivers, including climate change, deforestation and ecological disruption, which are increasing contact between humans and disease-carrying rodents.
To strengthen preparedness, Lagos State has activated enhanced surveillance systems, a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre, digital tracking tools, and continuous training for healthcare workers on biosecurity and infection control. Abayomi said the state’s strategy prioritises early detection, rapid isolation and effective case management to prevent escalation.
Reassuring residents, he urged calm but emphasised the importance of personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and prompt reporting of symptoms, noting that the state is working closely with national and international health partners, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Ministry of Health, to contain the outbreak and improve public awareness.
The newly launched campaign will focus on educating communities, strengthening clinical response capacity, and equipping healthcare workers with updated guidance on case management and infection prevention, as authorities race to curb further spread of the disease.