NCDC Steps Up Lassa Fever Preparedness Ahead of 2026/2027 Peak Season

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has stepped up preparations for the 2026/2027 Lassa fever season, urging healthcare workers, state governments, communities and households to strengthen prevention and preparedness ahead of the period when infections typically increase.

Speaking at a National Health Security Press Briefing on Lassa fever in Abuja on Wednesday, 9 September, NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the agency's approach would be grounded in a One Health framework involving the health, environment, agriculture and livestock sectors, as well as local governments and communities.

Lassa fever occurs throughout the year in Nigeria, but cases typically increase during the dry season. NCDC identified November to April as the peak transmission period in its March 2026 advisory, while the World Health Organisation has similarly described December to April as the period when large seasonal outbreaks typically occur.

The timing of the latest preparedness effort therefore comes before the expected seasonal increase, giving public health authorities an opportunity to address gaps identified during the 2026 outbreak.

NCDC targets coordinated preparedness

Idris said Lassa fever prevention and control could not be achieved by the health sector alone, stressing the complementary responsibilities of government sectors and communities.

“Our approach during this period will be firmly grounded in One Health. Lassa fever cannot be prevented and controlled by the health sector acting alone,” Idris said.

He added that preparedness and response measures would be implemented nationally, while emphasising that targeted action in high-burden areas should not be interpreted as limiting responsibility elsewhere.

“Lassa fever can occur in many parts of the country. Every State, Local Government, health facility, community and household has a role to play,” he said.

The emphasis on coordinated preparedness follows a challenging 2026 outbreak. By epidemiological week 33, Nigeria had recorded 1,035 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 252 deaths, according to NCDC data reported in early September. Twenty-three states had recorded at least one confirmed case across 117 local government areas.

Five states–Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue–accounted for the majority of confirmed infections. Reports on the NCDC's latest briefing put their combined contribution at about 86–87 per cent of confirmed cases recorded in 2026.

NCDC to strengthen understanding of changing disease patterns

Beyond immediate preparedness, the agency said it would continue research to better understand changes in the epidemiology of Lassa fever.

Idris said the increase in cases observed during the last outbreak had raised important research questions. NCDC will therefore support research activities, including genomic sequencing, to improve understanding of emerging transmission patterns.

The agency also plans to continue supporting efforts towards the development of candidate Lassa fever vaccines and rapid diagnostic tests.

These measures are particularly relevant to Nigeria's longer-term response because seasonal preparedness depends not only on responding to cases as they occur, but also on improving surveillance, diagnosis and understanding of how transmission patterns are changing.

Healthcare workers remain a key concern

Protecting healthcare workers is another important part of the preparedness effort.

NCDC's March 2026 situation report recorded 637 confirmed cases and 160 deaths by epidemiological week 12, with 22 states reporting confirmed infections. The agency also reported healthcare worker infections during the outbreak.

Earlier in the year, NCDC identified inadequate infection prevention and control practices, insufficient pre-positioning of personal protective equipment and infections occurring in healthcare facilities among challenges requiring attention.

For pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, the renewed preparedness drive reinforces the importance of maintaining appropriate infection prevention and control practices and supporting early recognition and referral of suspected cases within healthcare settings.

Why the preparation matters

Historical surveillance shows that Lassa fever transmission in Nigeria is not confined to the dry season, but the country experiences a marked seasonal increase during the dry months. WHO has documented the usual peak between December and April, while NCDC has described November to April as the peak transmission period.

The latest NCDC initiative therefore represents a shift towards preparing before the expected seasonal rise rather than waiting for cases to accelerate.

For Nigeria's health system, the coming months will provide an opportunity to strengthen surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, community engagement and coordination between sectors before the country enters the period historically associated with higher Lassa fever transmission.

Pharmacy Times Nigeria will continue to monitor developments as NCDC and state health authorities implement the preparedness measures for the 2026/2027 Lassa fever season.