The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a higher fatality rate from Lassa fever in 2026, with 214 deaths recorded so far and a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 25 percent, compared to 18.9 percent recorded during the same period in 2025.
According to the Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 23, the number of newly confirmed cases remained unchanged from the previous week, with infections reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states.
The report stated that 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas have recorded at least one confirmed case this year, underscoring the continued spread of the disease across the country.
“Five states, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue, accounted for 84 percent of all confirmed cases recorded in 2026. Ondo State led with 28 percent of confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 percent, Taraba with 15 percent, Edo with 10 percent and Benue with six percent.”
Health authorities noted that the age group most affected by the disease is between 21 and 30 years, although cases have been recorded among people aged between one and 93 years.
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“The median age of confirmed cases is 30 years, while the male-to-female ratio stands at 1:0.9.”
The report further revealed that both suspected and confirmed cases have increased compared to the corresponding period in 2025; however, no new healthcare worker infection was recorded during the reporting week.
To contain the outbreak, the NCDC and its partners have continued implementing a range of response activities, including infection prevention and control training, active case searches, contact tracing, community sensitisation campaigns and laboratory testing.
“Other interventions include the activation of Incident Management Systems in several states, distribution of personal protective equipment, support for treatment centres, and capacity-building programmes for healthcare workers in endemic areas.”
The agency, with support from partners such as the World Health Organisation, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières and other stakeholders, has also intensified risk communication and community engagement activities to improve awareness and promote early reporting of symptoms.
Despite these efforts, the report identified several challenges hampering effective control of the disease, including late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour driven by the high cost of treatment, inadequate environmental sanitation, low public awareness in affected communities and infections among healthcare workers.
The NCDC urged state governments to strengthen year-round community engagement and public education on Lassa fever prevention.
It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for the disease, ensure timely referral and treatment of suspected cases, and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures.
The agency called on partners and stakeholders to continue supporting efforts to strengthen state capacity for the prevention, detection and prompt response to Lassa fever outbreaks, with the goal of reducing infections and saving lives across the country.
