Lassa fever: NARD Mandates Use of Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has mandated the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers following the recent surge in Lassa fever cases across endemic states.

Pharmanewsonline reports that multiple cases of Lassa fever have been reported in Plateau State early in the year, prompting concerns over protective measures for health workers, with the most recent death of a Senior Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Dr Salome Obihi, following exposure to an emergency patient.

In a press release signed by its President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman, he described Lassa fever as a persistent viral haemorrhagic illness that poses significant danger, particularly to frontline health workers who often serve as first responders to suspected cases.

Dr Suleiman urged healthcare professionals to maintain a high index of suspicion when managing patients presenting with febrile illnesses, especially in endemic areas, noting that this approach enables early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

He emphasised that human-to-human transmission is a recognised mode of spread of Lassa fever, placing healthcare workers at high risk of infection when adequate PPE is not used. He therefore called for strict adherence to standard precautions and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, including the appropriate and consistent use of PPE.

According to him, many of the exposures recorded during recent outbreaks are preventable. “No health worker should die in the line of duty due to preventable exposure,” the association stressed.

Suleiman also advised the early referral of suspected cases to designated treatment centres where necessary, warning that delayed referral increases the risk of contamination within hospital settings and may compromise both patient and staff safety. Prompt transfer to specialised centres, he noted, ensures appropriate management and improves patient outcomes.

He further called on hospital managements and relevant authorities to guarantee the availability of adequate PPE, functional IPC systems, efficient diagnostic and treatment pathways, and sufficient institutional support for frontline health workers.

He concluded by urging all stakeholders to protect themselves, protect others, and protect the health workforce, reminding the public that health is a shared responsibility.