NIGERIA: The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo has confirmed that 50 patients have died from Lassa fever between November 2025 and the end of March 2026, marking the highest number of fatalities from a single outbreak recorded at the facility in recent years.
Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Kirim, Head of Clinical Services at FMC Jalingo, disclosed that the hospital admitted 226 suspected cases of Lassa fever during the period. Out of these, 95 were laboratory-confirmed positive. Of the confirmed cases, 50 patients died, while 20 others have been successfully treated and discharged. He added that new cases are still being reported.
Dr. Kirim described the situation as an epidemic and the largest outbreak the centre has faced in recent years. He attributed the rising cases largely to a lack of public awareness and urged the government at all levels, as well as health sector stakeholders, to intensify advocacy and awareness campaigns on preventive measures.
“The government and stakeholders in the health sector can come in by creating awareness to the people on how to keep away from rats, which are the primary carriers of this disease,” he said.
He also revealed that the hospital is facing an acute shortage of medical doctors, making it difficult to cope with the epidemic. Dr. Kirim expressed optimism, however, that the rate of infection would decline with the onset of the rainy season, as Lassa fever transmission is typically higher during the dry season.
Service Packs for Standardisation and Infection Control
Meanwhile, the hospital management has defended the recently introduced “service packs,” saying they are designed to ensure standardisation, efficiency, safety, and accountability in healthcare delivery — especially critical during infectious disease outbreaks like Lassa fever.
The management stressed that the service pack system is not unique to FMC Jalingo but is a standard practice in leading tertiary health institutions across Nigeria, including Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). Similar systems are also used in advanced hospitals in Ghana, the United States, India, and South Africa.
“Service packs serve as a frontline safeguard for both patients and medical personnel,” the management stated. “The absence of properly structured and sterile consumables, or reliance on repeatedly handled materials, increases the risk of transmission to healthcare workers and other patients, with potentially severe public health consequences.”
The hospital further appealed to the public to channel any concerns or clarifications through established institutional platforms, including the SERVICOM Unit, rather than making public comments that could create unnecessary anxiety or erode confidence in essential health services.
Key Facts:
- Period: November 2025 – March 2026
- Suspected cases: 226
- Confirmed cases: 95
- Deaths: 50
- Discharged (recovered): 20
- Ongoing: New cases still being recorded
This merged report combines the essential details, statistics, expert comments, and management statements from both stories into a clear, coherent, and balanced single article.
