Lassa Fever Tightens Grip on Nigeria as Death Toll Hits 17, Plateau Emerges Deadly New Hotspot

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Nigeria is confronting a rapidly escalating Lassa fever outbreak, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirming 93 cases and 17 deaths across eight states by the end of January 2026. Health officials warn that infections have continued to rise into early February, deepening fears of wider community transmission.

While Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states remain long-standing epicentres of the viral disease, Plateau State has now emerged as a dangerous new hotspot, triggering heightened national concern. As of February 7, Plateau recorded 11 confirmed cases and four fatalities, including the death of a frontline medical doctor who contracted the virus while caring for infected patients.

The doctor’s death has shaken Nigeria’s medical community, underscoring the grave risks faced by healthcare workers and renewing calls for urgent improvements in infection prevention, protective equipment, and staff welfare.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa, transmitted mainly through food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats (Mastomys natalensis). Human-to-human transmission can also occur through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals, especially in healthcare settings without strict infection control measures.

Early symptoms often resemble malaria or typhoid, including persistent fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest or abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and cough. In severe cases, patients may develop facial swelling, breathing difficulties, internal or external bleeding, shock, and multi-organ failure. Among hospitalized patients, the fatality rate can reach 15 percent or higher if treatment is delayed.

There is no approved vaccine for Lassa fever, but medical experts stress that early diagnosis and prompt treatment with the antiviral drug ribavirin can significantly improve survival rates. Health authorities warn that delays in seeking care remain a major driver of preventable deaths.

In response to the outbreak, the NCDC and state health agencies have intensified public health advisories, urging Nigerians to adopt strict preventive measures. These include storing food in rat-proof containers, maintaining clean surroundings, sealing cracks and holes in homes, avoiding contact with rats or their droppings, and practising regular handwashing with soap and running water.

Experts caution that the dry season often drives rodents indoors, increasing the risk of transmission. The situation is further complicated by delayed case reporting from rural areas, limited diagnostic capacity in some regions, and continued exposure of healthcare workers.

The death of the Plateau doctor has amplified demands for the immediate provision of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), improved training, and stronger occupational safety policies for medical personnel battling infectious diseases nationwide.

With Nigeria already facing multiple public health pressures, officials stress that community vigilance, early reporting, and strict hygiene practices remain the strongest defences against the virus for now.

Residents experiencing unexplained fever or related symptoms are advised to seek immediate medical attention at designated health facilities or contact the NCDC through official channels.

As the nation mourns the lives lost—including those of dedicated healthcare workers—authorities continue to urge calm, awareness, and collective responsibility to halt the spread of the deadly virus.