Abstract

Abstract
Lassa Fever (LF) remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria and several other West African countries, with recurrent outbreaks causing substantial morbidity and mortality. LF is a zoonotic viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily through exposure to the urine and faeces of infected Mastomys natalensis rats as well as through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Nigeria bears the highest burden of LF in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 3 million cases and approximately 67,000 deaths annually. Despite ongoing efforts, the high case fatality rate (CFR) underscores the need for improved prevention and control strategies. This review examines the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and current challenges in managing LF outbreaks in Nigeria. It identifies key drivers of LF prevalence, including poor knowledge of LF among healthcare workers (HCWs), socio-cultural practices, environmental factors, and systemic healthcare limitations. Knowledge gaps among HCWs, inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and poor healthcare infrastructure have contributed to the persistence of LF. Effective control measures require a multidisciplinary approach, including targeted HCW training, enhanced surveillance systems, robust diagnostic capacity, and increased community awareness. Strengthening Nigeria's healthcare infrastructure and integrating "One Health" strategies are critical to reducing the LF burden and improving health outcomes.

Key words: Keywords Zoonotic disease, infection, healthcare workers, epidemiology, public health, One Health