NCDC Raises Alarm as 37 Health Workers Contract Lassa Fever in 2026

NCDC Raises Alarm as 37 Health Workers Contract Lassa Fever in 2026

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that six healthcare workers contracted Lassa fever within one week, raising renewed concerns about occupational exposure among frontline medical personnel as Nigeria continues to battle the viral disease.

The agency disclosed this in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 9, covering February 23 to March 1, noting that the infections occurred while healthcare workers were involved in treating and managing patients across affected states.

According to the report, 37 healthcare workers have been infected with Lassa fever in 2026 so far, underscoring the risks faced by medical personnel working in treatment centres and hospitals handling suspected cases.

The NCDC said 65 confirmed Lassa fever cases were recorded during the week, representing a slight decline from the 77 cases reported in the previous week. The infections were reported in Benue, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, Plateau and Nasarawa states.

During the same period, 460 suspected cases were reported, while nine deaths occurred among confirmed cases, representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 13.9 per cent.

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Cumulatively, the agency said Nigeria has recorded 2,446 suspected cases and 469 confirmed infections in 2026, with 109 deaths recorded so far.

This brings the overall case fatality rate to 23.2 per cent, which is significantly higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025, raising concerns among public health experts about the severity of the outbreak this year.

The NCDC noted that 18 states and 69 Local Government Areas have reported at least one confirmed case of the disease in 2026.

However, five states account for the majority of infections, with Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo responsible for 86 per cent of confirmed cases nationwide.

Public health authorities attributed the rising fatalities partly to late presentation of patients at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour, and low awareness levels in some high-burden communities.

In response, the NCDC said it has activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate nationwide response activities.

These include active case searches, contact tracing, risk communication campaigns, the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to health facilities, and the deployment of rapid response teams to affected states.

The agency also urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, especially in endemic areas, and to strictly follow infection prevention and control protocols to reduce hospital-based transmission.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, first identified in 1969 in the town of Lassa in present-day Borno State.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease is endemic in Nigeria and several West African countries and is primarily spread by the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis).

Humans typically become infected through contact with rodent urine or droppings contaminating food, household items, or surfaces. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings where adequate infection prevention measures are not followed.

Health experts note that while many infections remain mild or asymptomatic, about 20 per cent of cases develop severe illness, which may include high fever, bleeding, respiratory distress, organ failure, and neurological complications.

Authorities continue to advise Nigerians to maintain proper food storage, improve sanitation, and avoid contact with rodents, while encouraging early medical attention for suspected symptoms in order to reduce fatalities.

NCDC Raises Alarm as 37 Health Workers Contract Lassa Fever in 2026