The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,138 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 268 deaths across 24 states, with the case fatality rate rising to 23.6 per cent in 2026.
The figures were contained in the agency’s latest Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological weeks 39 and 40, covering September 21 to October 4, 2026.
According to the report, the current case fatality rate is higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, highlighting the continued public health threat posed by the disease.
The NCDC said confirmed infections had been reported across 119 local government areas in 24 states, with Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo accounting for 88 per cent of the total cases.
The agency also identified people aged between 21 and 30 as the most affected age group during the reporting period.
Despite the rising cumulative figures, the report showed a decline in newly confirmed infections during the latest week under review.
Nigeria recorded three new confirmed cases in epidemiological week 40, covering September 28 to October 4, compared with 13 cases in the preceding week.
The three new infections were reported in Bauchi and Benue states.
In week 39, the country recorded 13 new confirmed cases, bringing the cumulative number of infections to 1,134 and deaths to 267.
The agency further reported that no new healthcare worker was infected during weeks 39 and 40, although the outbreak continues to require vigilance among health professionals and communities.
Five States Account for Majority of Cases
The NCDC identified Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo as the states accounting for the overwhelming majority of confirmed infections recorded in 2026.
The concentration of cases in these states underscores the need for sustained surveillance, public awareness campaigns and timely access to medical care in affected communities.
The agency has continued to emphasise the importance of early detection and prompt treatment, particularly as the case fatality rate remains higher than the level recorded during the same period last year.
NCDC Advises Nigerians on Prevention
Lassa fever is an acute viral illness transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats.
The disease can also spread from person to person through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual, particularly in healthcare settings where appropriate infection prevention and control measures are not observed.
The NCDC advised Nigerians to maintain good environmental sanitation, store food in rodent-proof containers and avoid contact with rats to reduce the risk of infection.
The agency also urged healthcare workers to observe appropriate infection prevention and control procedures when attending to suspected cases.
The latest figures highlight the importance of sustained public health interventions, community awareness and early medical attention in reducing deaths associated with Lassa fever.