An escalating outbreak of Lassa fever in Benue State has prompted an urgent intervention by the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières, as rising infections and fatalities place mounting pressure on already overstretched health facilities.
Working in collaboration with the Benue State Ministry of Health, MSF has deployed emergency response teams to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) measures following a surge in cases that has exposed critical weaknesses in healthcare safety systems, particularly among frontline workers.
Official figures indicate that as of mid-March, Benue recorded 410 suspected cases, with 60 confirmed infections and 14 deaths. Notably, 14 healthcare workers are among those infected, underscoring concerns over inadequate protective measures within treatment centres.
The outbreak reflects a wider national trend. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Nigeria recorded 167 deaths from Lassa fever within the first 13 weeks of 2026, with a case fatality rate of 25.2 per cent—significantly higher than the 18.5 per cent reported during the same period in 2025.
Authorities in Benue State formally declared the outbreak on February 3, 2026, as infections spread across communities in one of the country’s known high-risk zones.
Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic disease endemic in Nigeria, typically peaks between November and April. It is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, but can also spread via direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, making healthcare environments particularly vulnerable in the absence of strict safety protocols.
In response, MSF launched a three-month emergency intervention in March at the request of state authorities, targeting containment of the outbreak and prevention of further transmission, especially amid rising infections among healthcare workers and persistent shortages of personal protective equipment.
“Healthcare workers and patients are at significant risk when infection prevention measures are not fully in place,” said MSF Emergency Coordinator, Juniper Gordon. “Strengthening IPC and improving the organisation of care are critical to reducing transmission in health facilities.”
MSF teams are currently providing technical and operational support in selected facilities, focusing on improving clinical practices and patient management systems. Interventions include training healthcare workers on IPC protocols, restructuring triage processes, and establishing clearly demarcated high-risk and low-risk zones to minimise cross-infection.
The organisation is also supplying essential materials such as personal protective equipment, hygiene kits, and sanitation supplies, while enhancing waste management systems and infection control procedures. Handwashing stations are being installed in supported facilities, alongside strengthened surveillance through improved data collection and monitoring.
To support patient welfare, MSF is also providing food assistance to individuals in isolation centres, helping to ease the burden on affected families.
MSF said it is coordinating closely with key partners, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the NCDC, to scale up response efforts and curb the spread of the disease.
Despite ongoing interventions, public health experts warn that the outbreak highlights deeper systemic challenges within Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly in infection control preparedness and rapid response capacity.
