SUNTV Global Channel | March 28, 2026
Nigeria is facing a severe outbreak of Lassa fever, with 146 reported deaths and dozens of healthcare workers infected over the past three months, highlighting critical gaps in protection and response within the country’s healthcare system.
According to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), 582 confirmed cases have emerged from 3,222 suspected infections in just 11 weeks. Taraba State has recorded the highest fatalities with 40 deaths, followed by Ondo (31), Bauchi (25), Plateau (11), Benue (11), Edo (9), and Nasarawa (3).
Frontline medical personnel are disproportionately affected. The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) reports at least 25 of its members infected, with one death, while the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) confirms 37 healthcare workers infected, including three doctors who died.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease endemic to West Africa, is transmitted through contact with items contaminated by infected rodents or human-to-human transmission in healthcare settings with inadequate infection control. Symptoms range from mild fever to severe bleeding, respiratory distress, and death.
National NMA President Bala Audu stressed that Lassa fever is largely preventable through proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and strict infection control measures, warning that many health facilities lack adequate protection.
NARD’s National Secretary, Shuaibu Ibrahim, criticized authorities for failing to prevent the spread, emphasizing that prior lessons from outbreaks have not been implemented, resulting in repeated infections and deaths among health workers.
States like Ondo, Benue, Bauchi, and Plateau are struggling to manage the surge, despite intensified surveillance, isolation centres, and emergency response mechanisms. In Ondo State, over 20 fatalities have been reported, while Benue recorded 55 confirmed infections and 14 deaths, including 11 health workers.
The outbreak underscores the urgent need for strengthened healthcare infrastructure, sufficient PPE, and effective surveillance to protect frontline workers and prevent further spread.
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