The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has issued an advisory to medical doctors and other healthcare professionals across Nigeria as part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen clinical vigilance and protect healthcare workers during the current Lassa fever transmission season.

They urged health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever in patients presenting with febrile illness, particularly in endemic and high-burden states.

The NCDC and the NMA, on Monday, held a strategic engagement to review the rising cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria, with a particular focus on protecting healthcare workers and strengthening clinical vigilance across health facilities.

The meeting, convened by the Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, brought together leadership from both NCDC and NMA, led by its President, Prof Bala Südü, to discuss the current epidemiological situation, the increasing risk to frontline health workers, and the critical role of doctors in early detection and infection prevention.

Lassa fever remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, particularly during the dry season from November to April.

According to NCDC, recent surveillance data indicate continued transmission across several states, with a concerning number of infections occurring among healthcare workers.

It noted that of particular concern is that a significant proportion of infected healthcare workers this season are doctors and nurses, reflecting the high level of clinical exposure among physicians who are often the first point of contact for patients with undifferentiated febrile illnesses, adding that this underscores the critical role of doctors in early detection, clinical vigilance, and strict adherence to Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures.

The duo emphasised that protecting healthcare workers and preventing healthcare-associated transmission must therefore remain a national priority.