Health workers across Nigeria are facing rising risks as the Lassa fever outbreak spreads, with infections and deaths recorded among frontline medical personnel.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said no fewer than 37 health workers had been affected, including three doctors who died from the disease.
Similarly, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) disclosed that 25 of its members were infected, with one fatality recorded.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa. It is caused by the Lassa virus and transmitted mainly through contact with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats, or through person-to-person transmission.
According to data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Friday, 146 deaths have been recorded from 582 confirmed cases, while 3,222 suspected cases were reported nationwide within 11 weeks.
Data Breakdown
A breakdown of fatalities showed that Taraba recorded the highest number of deaths at 40, followed by Ondo with 31, while Bauchi reported 25 deaths.
Plateau and Benue states recorded 11 deaths each, Edo reported nine, and Nasarawa recorded three within the same period.
Medical experts have expressed concern that the increasing infections among health workers indicate gaps in infection prevention and control measures, particularly in the availability and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
They warned that without stronger interventions, including improved surveillance, prompt isolation of cases and adequate protection for frontline personnel, health workers would remain vulnerable.
Speaking with newsmen, the NMA President, Dr Bala Audu, described Lassa fever as a seasonal disease that peaks between October and the early months of the year.
He said although it was unclear whether the current rise in cases was due to increased transmission or improved surveillance, the impact on health workers had been severe.
“Lassa fever is seasonal in this country from around October, November, December and beyond.
“The incidence had been falling over the last three to four years, but this year it has gone up again.
“We are not sure if there are more cases now or if surveillance has improved, but the devastating effect has been significant because the number of health workers affected is quite high,” Audu said.
