Lagos issues red alert over rising lassa fever cases nationwide

The Lagos State Government has placed residents connected precocious alert pursuing a surge successful Lassa fever cases crossed Nigeria, announcing the commencement of a broad consciousness and prevention campaign.

The State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, disclosed that much than 660 confirmed infections and 167 deaths were recorded nationwide betwixt January and mid-March 2026. The cases were reported crossed 22 states and 93 section authorities areas.

Abayomi expressed interest implicit infections among healthcare workers, revealing that 38 aesculapian unit had contracted the disease, including 3 fatalities. He described the improvement arsenic alarming and called for stricter adherence to corruption prevention protocols and a much accelerated effect system.

He explained that Lassa fever is simply a highly infectious zoonotic illness transmitted chiefly done interaction with infected rodents and human-to-human transmission. Although Lagos is not classified arsenic an endemic state, its ample and densely populated situation increases the hazard of accelerated spread.

To mitigate imaginable outbreaks, the authorities has activated respective exigency preparedness measures, including the cognition of a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre, strengthened illness surveillance, and targeted grooming for healthcare workers.

The commissioner urg...