The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Monday raised an alarm over the increasing spread of Lassa fever among health care workers.
The disease control agency noted that so far, two health workers have been killed, while 15 confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been documented among health care workers as Nigeria battles another outbreak of the zoonotic disease.
In an advisory released on Monday, the NCDC expressed its sympathy to the affected health workers.
“Recent surveillance data indicate a concerning increase in Lassa fever infections among healthcare workers, with 15 confirmed cases and 2 deaths recorded as of Epidemiological Week 7.
Healthcare worker infections have been reported across multiple states, including the known high-burden areas such as Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Benue, with specific hotspots often identified at the LGA level.
“As part of its mandate, NCDC investigates every healthcare worker infection to identify drivers of transmission and prevent further cases. Recent findings reveal gaps in infection prevention and control practices, as well as missed risks of exposure in certain departments.
“These gaps have resulted in IPC strategies that are misaligned with actual exposure risks, with fatal consequences.”
Lassa fever, an animal-borne or zoonotic, acute viral illness spread by the common African rat, also known as the Mastomys rat species, is endemic in Nigeria and some other West African countries.
Since the last outbreak of the disease in 2016, there has been an increase in the number of recurring cases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.
Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.
Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.
“Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures,” the global health body stated.
