Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
Nigeria is facing one of its most challenging Lassa fever seasons in recent years, with health experts warning that late diagnosis, fear, and limited awareness continue to put lives at risk across affected communities.
According to new information released by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the country has recorded 516 confirmed cases of Lassa fever since January 2026, with 135 deaths already reported. The number of fatalities represents a 31 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Health workers say the disease remains difficult to detect early because its symptoms often resemble more common illnesses such as malaria and typhoid. Dr. Ayokunnu Raji, MSF’s emergency medical programme manager, explained that many patients only reach treatment centres when their condition has already become critical.
One survivor, Musa, who lives in Bauchi State, initially believed he was suffering from malaria after experiencing severe headaches and stomach pain.
He was treated at a private clinic but continued to deteriorate. It was only after an MSF outreach team visited his community and referred him to the Lassa Fever Treatment Centre at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital that he was properly diagnosed.
After spending 29 days receiving treatment, Musa eventually recovered and now helps raise awareness about the disease in his community.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease carried by rodents commonly found in West Africa. It spreads mainly through food or household items contaminated by infected rats, but it can also be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials.
Although many infected people experience mild symptoms, severe cases can lead to organ failure and death.
The current outbreak has also placed a heavy burden on healthcare workers. MSF reports that 38 health workers have been infected across Nigeria this year, more than double the number recorded during the same period last year.
In February, three MSF staff members were infected, and one health worker in Kano State died.
MSF is currently responding to the outbreak in several states, including Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Taraba, Sokoto and Zamfara. In Bauchi State, the organisation has been working with the Nigerian Ministry of Health since 2022 to provide free treatment, laboratory testing, antiviral drugs, and mental health support to patients.
Between October 2025 and March 2026 alone, 311 people tested positive at the MSF-supported treatment centre in Bauchi, with 68 deaths recorded.
Outreach teams are also working in surrounding communities to identify suspected cases early and refer patients for treatment before their condition worsens.
Fear and misinformation remain major challenges in the fight against the disease. Many communities still associate Lassa fever with curses or witchcraft, which discourages people from seeking medical help. MSF health promotion teams are therefore working closely with community leaders, religious leaders and traditional healers to build trust and improve awareness.
The organisation reports that between January 2025 and February 2026, its teams reached more than 186,000 people through community awareness sessions and referred over 1,600 suspected cases to treatment centres.
In addition to treating patients, MSF also runs survivor clinics for people who have recovered from the disease but continue to experience long-term effects such as hearing loss or neurological complications.
Survivors receive medical follow-up, mental health support, and counselling on how to reduce the risk of further transmission.
Although the number of new cases is expected to decline as the dry season ends, MSF says it will continue working in Bauchi State throughout the year to strengthen preparedness ahead of the next seasonal peak expected in October.
Health experts warn that Lassa fever remains a major public health threat in Nigeria and other West African countries, with hundreds of thousands of infections estimated each year and thousands of deaths.
With no approved vaccine currently available, early diagnosis, community awareness, and strong healthcare systems remain the most effective tools in reducing the impact of the disease.
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