NCDC, NMA Strengthen Collaboration to Protect Healthcare Workers Amid Lassa Fever Surge
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in partnership with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has called on medical doctors and healthcare professionals nationwide to maintain heightened vigilance as the Lassa fever transmission season continues.
In an advisory issued to health workers, the agencies urged clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever in patients presenting with febrile illnesses, particularly in endemic and high-burden states.
On Monday, NCDC and NMA held a strategic engagement to review the rising cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria, focusing on protecting healthcare workers and strengthening clinical vigilance across health facilities. The meeting, convened by NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris, brought together leadership from both organisations, including NMA President Prof. Bala Südü, to discuss the current epidemiological trends, the heightened risk to frontline health workers, and the critical role of doctors in early detection and infection prevention.
Lassa fever remains a major public health concern, especially during the dry season from November to April. Recent surveillance data from NCDC indicate continued transmission across several states, with a worrying number of infections among healthcare workers. Doctors and nurses make up a significant proportion of these cases, reflecting their exposure as first points of contact for patients with undifferentiated febrile illnesses.
The agencies stressed that protecting healthcare workers and preventing healthcare-associated transmission must remain a national priority, highlighting the importance of early detection, strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and continued collaboration between health authorities and medical professionals.
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