Lassa fever outbreak hits six healthcare staff within seven days, reports NCDC

Nigeria's health sector is facing a new wave of concern over occupational exposure to Lassa fever, with six healthcare workers contracting the disease in just one week, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

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This alarming trend was revealed in the NCDC's Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 9, which covers the period from February 23 to March 1.

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The report highlights the ongoing struggle to combat Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease that is affecting several states across the country.

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Cumulatively, a total of 37 healthcare workers have been infected with Lassa fever in 2026, underscoring the need for enhanced measures to protect frontline health personnel.

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In the week under review, Nigeria recorded 65 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, representing a slight decline from the 77 cases reported in the previous week.

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The confirmed cases were spread across seven states, including Benue, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, and Nasarawa.

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The NCDC also reported 460 suspected cases during the same period, with nine deaths recorded among confirmed cases, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate of 13.9 per cent.

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As of 2026, Nigeria has recorded a total of 2,446 suspected cases and 469 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, with 109 deaths reported so far, according to the NCDC.

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The overall case fatality rate stands at 23.2 per cent, which is higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

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A total of 18 states and 69 local government areas have reported at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever this year.

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Notably, 86 per cent of confirmed infections were concentrated in five states: Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo.

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The NCDC has attributed the rising fatalities to factors such as late presentation of cases at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour, and inadequate awareness in some high-burden communities.

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To coordinate response efforts nationwide, the agency has activated a multi-partner Incident Management System.

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Response activities include active case search, contact tracing, distribution of personal protective equipment to health facilities, and deployment of rapid response teams to affected states.

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The NCDC is urging healthcare workers to maintain a high level of suspicion for Lassa fever and adhere strictly to infection prevention and control measures to reduce hospital-based transmission.

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Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which was first identified in 1969 in the town of Lassa, Borno.

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The disease is endemic in Nigeria and parts of West Africa, with the virus primarily carried by the multimammate rat.

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According to the World Health Organisation, humans become infected with Lassa fever through contact with rodent excreta or contaminated food, and human-to-human transmission can occur in healthcare settings without proper infection prevention measures.

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The WHO notes that while many Lassa fever infections are mild or asymptomatic, about 20 per cent can develop into severe disease, presenting with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, bleeding, and organ dysfunction.