After confirming that 15 health employees have contracted Lassa fever and with two fatalities noted so far this transmission season, Nigeria’s disease control agency has raised new concerns.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention asked hospitals and clinics all throughout the country to increase safety measures and remain vigilant in a recent advisory issued amid the height of the epidemic.
Calling the situation worrisome, the agency noted that infections were significantly affected by lapses in infection-control protocols.
Preliminary study results show gaps like insufficient safety precautions in general wards and outpatient clinics, poor use of protective equipment, and weak suspicion of symptoms in patients.
The agency added that non-clinical employees, such as administrative staff and cleaners, face similar hazards and should be included in training and protection programmes.
The News Chronicle reported that the current statistics were verified as of Epidemiological Week 7 of the 2025 to 2026 season, a period typically marked by an increase in Lassa fever cases across many states.
Health officials report that in medical settings, transmission typically occurs through contact with contaminated body fluids or prolonged exposure to potential cases.
They have instructed institutions to establish appropriate isolation units, ensure clear referral systems, and uphold universal safety procedures for all patients, regardless of diagnosis.
