Médecins Sans Frontières has stepped up support for the Benue State Ministry of Health following a surge in Lassa fever cases that is putting pressure on hospitals across Benue State.
Health authorities said 410 suspected cases had been recorded in the state by mid-March, including 60 confirmed infections and 14 deaths.
Fourteen healthcare workers were among those infected, raising concerns over weak infection prevention and control measures in medical facilities.
At the national level, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported 167 Lassa fever-related deaths in the first 13 weeks of 2026.
The disease has so far recorded a fatality rate of 25.2 per cent, higher than the 18.5 per cent reported during the same period in 2025.
The Benue State Government formally declared an outbreak on February 3.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease common in Nigeria, is usually transmitted through food or household items contaminated by infected rats.
It can also spread through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected persons.
In response to the outbreak, MSF launched a three-month emergency intervention in March after the state government requested assistance.
The programme is aimed at improving infection prevention, especially in the wake of increasing infections among healthcare workers and shortages of personal protective equipment.
According to Juniper Gordon, both health workers and patients remain vulnerable where infection control measures are inadequate.
MSF teams are currently supporting selected health facilities by training staff on infection prevention, strengthening triage systems and creating separate high-risk and low-risk treatment areas.
The organisation is also providing protective gear, hygiene supplies, cleaning materials and support for waste disposal.
Handwashing stations are being installed in affected facilities, while MSF is assisting with surveillance, data collection and food support for patients in isolation centres.
Gordon said MSF is working with partners including the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund and the NCDC to curb the spread of the disease and improve preparedness for future outbreaks.