Lassa fever kills roughly one in four confirmed patients in Nigeria — and the single biggest reason is that people reach hospital too late. It starts looking exactly like malaria, so it gets waved off. This guide covers the early signs, how it actually spreads, and the simple steps that protect your household.
Last updated: · Outbreak figures shift weekly — check the latest NCDC situation reports.
Watch: the 60-second version — then read on for the full guide.
Why Lassa is so easy to miss
In its first days Lassa looks like ordinary malaria: fever, weakness, headache. That resemblance is the danger — treated early, survival is far higher; late, it becomes deadly. So the rule is simple: with the signs below, get tested; don’t wait it out.
Early warning signs — don’t dismiss them
See a doctor early if you notice:
- Fever that won’t break, with weakness
- Sore throat, headache, muscle and chest pain
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
- Bleeding from the gums, nose, or eyes
- Facial swelling or confusion — later, dangerous signs
How Lassa spreads (this is what prevention targets)
The virus comes from the multimammate rat, shed in its urine and droppings. People catch it mainly through food and household surfaces contaminated by rats, by breathing in dust where droppings have dried, and — in hospitals — through an infected person’s body fluids. The incubation period is about one to three weeks.
Protect your home — five practical steps
- Store all food in sealed, rat-proof containers — garri, rice, beans, everything.
- Never dry food outside where rats can reach it.
- Block rat entry — seal holes and clear bush around the house.
- Sweep damp, not dry — dry sweeping throws contaminated dust into the air.
- Cover dustbins and keep the kitchen tight.
If you suspect Lassa fever
Go to the nearest hospital immediately — do not self-medicate. Nigeria’s NCDC runs a free emergency line: 6232.
Outbreak figures change weekly. For the latest confirmed case and death counts, check the NCDC situation reports at ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps.
Sources: World Health Organization (Lassa fever fact sheet); Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) situation reports, 2026.