The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has called for increased public vigilance against Lassa fever.
In a post on his official X account, Abayomi emphasised that although the state has recorded only a few cases so far, the disease remains a major public health threat across Nigeria.
He noted that rapid medical intervention and effective isolation measures had helped prevent community transmission in Lagos, but stressed that sustained awareness and preventive practices remain essential.
“While Lassa fever is a major public health challenge across Nigeria, Lagos has seen only a few cases. Thanks to swift medical action, these cases were rapidly isolated and treated, preventing community spread,” he said.
Abayomi added that both orthodox and traditional healthcare sectors must remain alert, while communities need a better understanding of how the disease spreads and how it can be prevented.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease primarily transmitted from animals to humans, especially through contact with infected rodents. The disease is endemic in several West African countries and causes seasonal outbreaks in Nigeria, particularly during the dry season.
The virus is commonly carried by wild and household rodents, which shed infectious particles through urine, faeces, saliva, and blood.
Abayomi warned that several species of bushmeat may harbour the virus, increasing the risk of transmission through hunting, handling, or consumption of infected animals.
He highlighted several transmission routes, including direct contact with infected rodent waste, consumption of food or water contaminated by rodents, and exposure to contaminated household surfaces.
“People can also become infected by inhaling dust particles contaminated with rodent droppings or urine. Once introduced into a community, the disease can spread from person to person through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.”
The commissioner stressed that Lassa fever is largely preventable through improved hygiene and environmental sanitation.
He advised residents to store food in rodent-proof containers, maintain clean surroundings, and avoid contact with rodents and wild animals. He also urged the public to refrain from buying, handling, or consuming live or freshly killed bushmeat, especially from unknown sources.
“Let’s stay vigilant, practice strict hygiene, and protect our homes, our communities, and our healthcare heroes,” Abayomi said.
According to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), fatalities from the disease rose to 191 between April 27 and May 3. The agency reported that 23 states across 106 local government areas have recorded at least one confirmed case this year, with 84 per cent of confirmed cases coming from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo states. The predominant age group affected is 21 to 30 years.
