Korede Abdullah 
EKITI, Nigeria – The Ekiti State Government issues a public health advisory as Lassa fever cases and deaths rise across Nigeria, including fatalities among healthcare workers.
Although Ekiti records no confirmed case, authorities say surveillance and prevention measures have intensified to protect residents and frontline medical staff.
Permanent Secretary at the Ekiti State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Olusola Gbenga-Igotun,in a statement issued on Friday cited data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control showing increased infections among health workers.
“Surveillance data indicates 11 confirmed infections among healthcare workers and two deaths as of epidemiological week four, January 2026,” she says.
Nationwide, Nigeria records 121 confirmed cases and 25 deaths since January.
Gbenga-Igotun urges residents to take personal responsibility in preventing transmission, while reaffirming government support for health workers.
She commends Infection Prevention and Control focal persons across public facilities, noting strengthened IPC capacity through regular training, guideline dissemination, and routine provision of protective equipment.
“We now rely on our trained personnel to apply their expertise diligently during this period,” she says.
The ministry directs healthcare workers to strictly observe standard precautions, emphasising that not all fevers are malaria related.
Health workers are advised to confirm malaria cases using Rapid Diagnostic Tests and investigate alternative causes, including Lassa fever, if symptoms persist beyond 48 hours.
The advisory also stresses hospital sanitation, safe medical waste disposal, and immediate reporting of suspected cases to disease surveillance officers.
Officials say these measures are critical to reducing transmission and safeguarding lives.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 
Mirian Gom 
Oluwafunbi Bello 