Nigeria’s disease control authorities have raised fresh alarm over the growing spread of Lassa fever among healthcare workers, warning that the outbreak is exacting a deadly toll on frontline personnel and exposing serious gaps in infection prevention and control across health facilities.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed on Monday that at least two healthcare workers have died after contracting the viral disease, while 15 confirmed infections have been recorded among health workers nationwide as of Epidemiological Week 7, as the country grapples with another wave of the zoonotic illness. The agency described the trend as deeply concerning, noting that those tasked with saving lives are increasingly becoming victims themselves, a development that poses grave risks to the health system and the wider public.
In an advisory issued on Monday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control expressed sympathy with affected healthcare workers and their families, while outlining troubling findings from its ongoing surveillance and investigations. “Recent surveillance data indicate a concerning increase in Lassa fever infections among healthcare workers, with 15 confirmed cases and two deaths recorded as of Epidemiological Week 7,” the advisory stated.
According to the agency, healthcare worker infections have been reported across several states, including high-burden areas such as Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Benue, with specific hotspots often identified at the local government area level. The NCDC explained that, in line with its mandate, it investigates every infection involving a healthcare worker in order to identify the drivers of transmission and prevent additional cases.
However, recent investigations have revealed “gaps in infection prevention and control practices, as well as missed risks of exposure in certain departments,” gaps which the agency warned have resulted in IPC strategies that are “misaligned with actual exposure risks, with fatal consequences.”
The warning from the national disease control agency was reinforced by developments in Benue State, one of the states experiencing a surge in suspected and confirmed cases. The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, confirmed on Monday that the state had recorded a worrying rise in infections and deaths linked to Lassa fever, particularly among healthcare workers.
Giving an update, Ogwuche said data from the ministry’s dashboard showed that more than 60 suspected cases had been reported across the state as of Monday. “The record from the ministry dashboard as of today indicates that there are over 60 suspected cases of Lassa fever. Eleven cases have been confirmed, out of which four health workers died, and three patients were on admission,” the commissioner said. He added that the state government was intensifying efforts to curb the spread of the disease through public enlightenment campaigns, strengthened surveillance, and technical support from the NCDC, stressing that protecting healthcare workers remained a top priority.
Lassa fever is an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness that is endemic in Nigeria and several other West African countries. The disease is primarily transmitted by the Mastomys rat, commonly known as the African rat, which sheds the virus in its urine and faeces. Humans typically become infected through contact with food or household items contaminated by these rodents, although secondary transmission can also occur.
Since the major outbreak recorded in 2016, Nigeria has witnessed an increase in recurring cases, with seasonal surges placing repeated strain on the health system. Beyond Nigeria, the disease is known to be endemic in countries such as Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Togo, and may exist undetected in other parts of West Africa.
The World Health Organisation has consistently warned that Lassa fever poses particular dangers in healthcare settings when infection prevention and control measures are inadequate. According to the WHO, Lassa fever is “an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family,” and while rodent-to-human transmission remains the most common route of infection, person-to-person spread can also occur.
“Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures,” the global health body has stated, underscoring the risks faced by doctors, nurses, laboratory staff and other frontline workers.
Public health experts say the latest figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen infection control practices nationwide, particularly at primary and secondary healthcare facilities where exposure risks are often underestimated. The deaths of healthcare workers, they warn, not only represent a tragic loss of skilled professionals but also threaten the resilience of an already stretched health system.
As Nigeria continues to battle recurring Lassa fever outbreaks, the NCDC and state authorities face mounting pressure to ensure adequate protective equipment, training, and surveillance mechanisms are in place to safeguard health workers and prevent further transmission. The unfolding situation, analysts say, highlights the broader public health implications of the outbreak and the critical importance of closing IPC gaps to protect both caregivers and the communities they serve.