Nigeria: Lassa Fever - 53 Health Workers Infected As Cases Hit 1,000 in 2026

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that 1,000 cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed across 23 states in Nigeria, resulting in 237 deaths as of July 2026. Notably, 53 healthcare workers have been infected, underscoring the ongoing risk to frontline health workers during the outbreak. The disease, primarily transmitted through contact with contaminated rodents or their excretions, can also spread human-to-human via bodily fluids.

Symptoms include fever, weakness, and headache, potentially escalating to severe complications like bleeding, respiratory distress, and organ failure without prompt treatment. The NCDC recommends year-round community engagement on prevention and urges healthcare workers to maintain vigilance for the disease, ensure timely referral and treatment, and adhere to infection control procedures.