Nigeria, Feb. 1 -- Resident doctors in Nigeria have called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on Lassa fever.

The group, under the aegis of Association for Resident Doctors, made the call in Abuja on Saturday as the country is currently battling the scourge of Lassa fever.

It has become a yearly occurrence for Nigeria to lose health care workers to the disease, the doctors said, adding that they had already lost some of their members in this year's outbreak.

As at January 26, a total of 689 suspected cases with 258 confirmed cases were reported, with 41 deaths.

Five health workers were among the 41 deaths recorded.

As the first responders to Lassa fever patients, health workers are susceptible to getting infect...