NCDC reports 15 health workers contract Lassa fever, two dead

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Monday sounded the alarm over a rising number of Lassa fever cases among health workers.

The agency reported that 15 health care workers have been confirmed infected, with two deaths recorded, amid Nigeria’s ongoing outbreak of the viral disease.

In an advisory, the NCDC expressed sympathy to affected personnel and highlighted the risk factors driving transmission.

“Recent surveillance data show a concerning increase in Lassa fever infections among healthcare workers, with 15 confirmed cases and two deaths as of Epidemiological Week 7. Infections have been reported across several states, including high-burden areas such as Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Benue, with specific hotspots identified at the local government level.

“As part of its mandate, NCDC investigates every healthcare worker infection to determine transmission drivers and prevent further cases. Findings point to gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, and overlooked exposure risks in certain departments, resulting in IPC measures that are misaligned with actual risk, sometimes with fatal outcomes,” the advisory stated.

In Benue State, Commissioner for Health and Human Services Dr Paul Ogwuche confirmed that at least four health workers have died, with over 60 suspected cases reported. Of the 11 confirmed cases, four health workers died and three patients remain hospitalized. Efforts in collaboration with the NCDC are underway to contain the outbreak through public awareness and enhanced support measures.

Lassa fever is a zoonotic viral illness primarily transmitted by the Mastomys rat. It is endemic in Nigeria and several other West African countries. The World Health Organization describes it as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family. Humans are usually infected through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rats.

Person-to-person transmission and laboratory-acquired infections can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures. The disease is endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, and likely exists in other parts of West Africa.