International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Emerging infectious diseases often attract significant media attention because of their potential impact on public health perceptions and preparedness. Despite the absence of confirmed cases in Nigeria, the 2026 Andes hantavirus outbreak generated global public health concern because of increased international mobility and the potential risk of cross-border transmission.
Objective: This study investigated how Premium Times and Sahara Reporters framed the 2026 global hantavirus outbreak, focusing on the frequency, presentation formats, prominence, and dominant frames of coverage.
Method: The study employed a content analysis design. Using census approach, all hantavirus-related stories published by Premium Times and Sahara Reporters between 2 and 30 May 2026 were identified, yielding 29 stories for analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while Holsti’s (1969) formula was used to assess inter-coder reliability, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.85. Results: Premium Times published 17 stories (58.6%), while Sahara Reporters published 12 stories (41.4%). Of the 29 stories, 24 (82.8%) were news stories, 19 (65.5%) received low prominence, and 10 (34.5%) adopted a health risk/awareness frame, followed by the prevention and safety measures frame (5 stories; 17.2%) and the attribution of responsibility frame (4 stories; 13.8%).
Conclusion: Nigerian online newspapers reported the outbreak primarily as a public health risk but devoted limited attention and prominence to the issue, suggesting a predominantly reactive orientation in the newspapers' reporting of emerging health threats.
Unique Contribution: This study contributes empirical evidence on Nigerian media framing of the 2026 global hantavirus outbreak and extends health communication scholarship on emerging zoonotic diseases.
Key Recommendation: Nigerian online newspapers should adopt more sustained, prominent, explanatory, and interpretative reporting of emerging infectious diseases to strengthen public preparedness and risk communication.