Nigeria has recorded 210 deaths from Lassa fever and 842 confirmed cases in the first 22 epidemiological weeks of 2026, with the case fatality rate rising to 24.9 per cent, according to the latest situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The report showed that the number of confirmed infections increased from 747 cases recorded during the same period in 2025 to 842 this year, while deaths rose sharply from 142 to 210. The current fatality rate of 24.9 per cent is significantly higher than the 19 per cent recorded in the corresponding period last year.
According to the NCDC, 13 new confirmed cases and two deaths were reported in Epidemiological Week 22, covering May 25 to 31, 2026. The new infections were recorded in Ondo and Edo states.
The agency said 23 states and 109 local government areas have reported at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever this year, highlighting the continued spread of the disease across the country.
Five states accounted for the majority of infections nationwide. Ondo State recorded 28 per cent of all confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba with 15 per cent, Edo with nine per cent and Benue with six per cent. Together, these five states contributed 83 per cent of all confirmed cases reported in 2026.
The report indicated that the most affected age group was between 21 and 30 years, with confirmed cases ranging from one to 93 years of age and a median age of 30 years. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases stood at 1:0.9.
Despite the rising burden of the disease, no new healthcare worker infections were reported during the review week. The NCDC noted, however, that infections among healthcare workers remain one of the key challenges in the ongoing outbreak response.
To contain the outbreak, the agency said the National Lassa Fever multi-partner and multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains activated to coordinate response activities across affected states. Response measures have included infection prevention and control training for health workers, community engagement campaigns, active case search and contact tracing, deployment of rapid response teams, distribution of personal protective equipment, and treatment of confirmed cases at designated treatment centres.
The NCDC identified late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour driven by the high cost of treatment, poor environmental sanitation, low public awareness in high-burden communities, and healthcare worker infections as major factors complicating efforts to control the outbreak.
The agency urged state governments to sustain year-round community engagement on Lassa fever prevention, while advising healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, ensure timely referral and treatment of suspected cases, and adhere strictly to infection prevention and control measures.
