The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that six healthcare workers were infected with Lassa fever within a week, raising concerns about occupational risks faced by frontline medical personnel.
The agency made this known on Monday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 9, which covered 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 agency noted that a total of 37 healthcare workers have been infected with Lassa fever in 2026 so far.
It also stated that 65 confirmed cases were recorded during the week under review, slightly lower than the 77 cases reported the previous week.
The confirmed infections were reported in Benue State, Ondo State, Bauchi State, Taraba State, Edo State, Plateau State, and Nasarawa State.
The public health agency added that 460 suspected cases were reported during the same week, while nine deaths were recorded among confirmed cases, representing a Case Fatality Rate of 13.9 per cent.
Cumulatively, the agency said Nigeria has recorded 2,446 suspected cases and 469 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2026, with 109 deaths so far.
It added that the overall case fatality rate currently stands at 23.2 per cent, higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
According to the report, 18 states and 69 local government areas have reported at least one confirmed case this year.
The agency attributed the rising fatalities partly to late presentation of cases at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour, and limited awareness in some communities with high disease burden.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, first identified in 1969 in the town of Lassa.
The disease is endemic in Nigeria and several parts of West Africa. It is mainly transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats.
Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings where infection prevention and control measures are not adequately followed.
Health authorities explained that while many infections are mild or show no symptoms, about 20 per cent of cases can develop into severe illness characterised by fever, headache, vomiting, bleeding, and organ failure.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said it has activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts nationwide.
It added that ongoing response activities include active case searches, contact tracing, distribution of personal protective equipment to health facilities, and deployment of rapid response teams to affected states.
The agency also urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever and strictly follow infection prevention and control measures to reduce hospital-based transmission.