Lassa Fever Infects Six Health Workers in One Week as Nigeria Records 65 New Cases

By Jamila Muhammad

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that six healthcare workers contracted Lassa fever within a single week, sparking renewed concern about the risks faced by frontline medical personnel during the ongoing outbreak.

The development was disclosed in the agency’s latest Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 9, which covered the period between Feb. 23 and March 1.

According to the report, the infections occurred as Nigeria continues to battle the viral haemorrhagic disease across several parts of the country.

The NCDC revealed that a total of 37 health workers have been infected with Lassa fever since the beginning of 2026, highlighting the occupational hazards confronting medical staff responding to the outbreak, which include exposure to infected patients and inadequate protective measures in healthcare settings.

During the week under review, the country recorded 65 confirmed cases of the disease, representing a slight drop compared to the 77 cases documented in the preceding week.

The confirmed infections were reported in several states, including Benue State, Ondo State, Bauchi State, Taraba State, Edo State, Plateau State and Nasarawa State.

Health authorities also recorded 460 suspected cases within the same week. Among the confirmed infections, nine deaths were reported, resulting in a case fatality rate of 13.9 per cent.

The NCDC further stated that since the start of the year, Nigeria has documented 2,446 suspected cases of Lassa fever, out of which 469 were confirmed.

So far, 109 people have died from the disease in 2026, pushing the overall case fatality rate to 23.2 percent. This figure is notably higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

The report added that at least 18 states and 69 local government areas across the country have reported one or more confirmed cases this year.

Data from the agency indicates that five states account for the majority of infections, with Bauchi State, Ondo State, Taraba State, Benue State, and Edo State responsible for about 86 percent of all confirmed cases recorded so far in 2026.

The NCDC attributed the rising death toll partly to delayed patient presentations at health facilities, limited awareness in some high-risk communities, and poor health-seeking behaviour among affected populations.

To tackle the outbreak, the agency said it has activated a nationwide multi-partner incident management system aimed at strengthening coordination of response activities.

The measures currently underway include intensified surveillance, active case finding, contact tracing, the distribution of personal protective equipment to hospitals, and the deployment of rapid response teams in states with high infection rates.

The Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention has advised health workers across the country to stay alert and strictly observe safety procedures, including infection prevention and control measures, to minimise the risk of contracting the disease while treating patients.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus. It was first discovered in 1969 in Lassa, Borno State, and has since remained a public health concern in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.

The infection is commonly spread through contact with the urine or droppings of infected rodents, particularly the multimammate rat known scientifically as Mastomys natalensis. People can also become infected by eating contaminated food or through direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.

According to the World Health Organization, many people infected with the virus may experience mild symptoms or none at all. However, about 20 percent of cases can become severe, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and bleeding, as well as complications affecting vital organs.

Medical experts continue to urge early diagnosis, good hygiene practices and strict adherence to infection control measures to limit the spread of the disease and safeguard healthcare workers and the public.