NCDC cites transport costs, data gaps as Lassa fever response hurdles
Nigeria's NCDC identifies high specimen transport costs and inconsistent reporting as major barriers to Lassa fever detection. Director-General Jide Idris stated transporting samples from remote areas remains expensive and logistically difficult, slowing confirmation and response efforts. While zonal labs have improved testing turnaround times, performance varies across states. Surveillance gaps persist despite the 7-1-7 benchmark (detect within 7 days, report within 1 day, respond within 7 days). Parallel reporting systems and data validation weaknesses create discrepancies between federal and state figures. The operational challenges coincide with a sharp rise in cases: 74 new confirmed infections recorded in Epi Week 6 (Feb 2-8), up from 44 in Week 5. Cumulative 2026 cases reach 1,034 suspected, 240 confirmed with 51 deaths (CFR 21.3%). NCDC deploys dialysis machines and stresses state-level coordination is critical for containment.