The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says six healthcare workers were infected with Lassa fever within one week, raising fresh concerns about occupational exposure among frontline medical personnel.
The agency disclosed this on Monday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 9, covering February 23 to March 1.
According to the report, the infections occurred as Nigeria continues to battle the viral haemorrhagic disease across several states. The NCDC said that cumulatively, 37 healthcare workers have been infected with Lassa fever in 2026.
During the week under review, Nigeria recorded 65 confirmed cases of the disease, a slight decline from the 77 cases reported in the previous week. The confirmed cases were recorded in Benue State, Ondo State, Bauchi State, Taraba State, Edo State, Plateau State and Nasarawa State.
The public health agency also reported 460 suspected cases during the week, with nine deaths recorded among confirmed cases, representing a case fatality rate of 13.9 per cent.
Cumulatively, the NCDC said Nigeria has recorded 2,446 suspected cases and 469 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2026, with 109 deaths reported so far. It added that the overall case fatality rate stands at 23.2 per cent, higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
The agency further stated that 18 states and 69 local government areas have recorded at least one confirmed case this year. It added that 86 per cent of confirmed infections were recorded in five states, namely Bauchi State, Ondo State, Taraba State, Benue State and Edo State.
The NCDC attributed the rising fatality rate partly to late presentation of cases at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour and inadequate awareness in some high-burden communities.
According to the agency, it has activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts nationwide. 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.
The NCDC urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures to reduce hospital-based transmission.
According to the World Health Organization, Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus. The disease was first identified in 1969 in Lassa, Borno State and remains endemic in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
The virus is primarily carried by the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis. Humans can become infected through contact with rodent urine or droppings, contaminated food, or through human-to-human transmission in healthcare settings without proper infection prevention measures.
The WHO notes that while many infections are mild or asymptomatic, about 20 per cent of cases can develop severe illness, presenting symptoms such as fever, vomiting, bleeding and organ complications.
