Lassa fever: 6 health workers infected as NCDC confirms 65 cases in one week

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says six healthcare workers were infected with Lassa fever in one week, raising fresh concerns about occupational exposure among frontline health personnel.

The NCDC disclosed this on Monday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 9, covering February 23 to March 1, 2026.

The infections occurred as Nigeria continues to battle the viral haemorrhagic disease across several states.

The agency stated that cumulatively, 37 healthcare workers had been infected with Lassa fever in 2026.

It said Nigeria recorded 65 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in the week, a slight decline from the 77 reported the previous week.

The NCDC noted that the confirmed cases were recorded in Benue, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, and Nasarawa States.

The NCDC disclosed that 460 suspected cases were reported during the week under review, with nine deaths recorded among confirmed cases, representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 13.9 per cent.

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.

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It added that 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.

The agency said 18 states and 69 Local Government Areas have recorded at least one confirmed case this year, adding that 86 per cent of confirmed infections were recorded in five states – Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo.

The NCDC attributed the increasing fatalities partly to late presentation of cases at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour and inadequate awareness in some high-burden communities.

The agency said it had activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts nationwide.

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

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

The Star