Nigeria Records 1,134 Confirmed Lassa Fever Cases, 267 Deaths

Nigeria has recorded 1,134 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 267 deaths since January 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The figures were contained in the agency’s latest Lassa fever situation report covering Week 39, from September 21 to 27, and Week 40, from September 28 to October 4, 2026.

According to the report, the country’s case fatality rate (CFR) stood at 23.6 per cent, higher than the 18.5 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

The NCDC said 24 states had reported at least one confirmed case of the disease across 119 local government areas.

The report further revealed that Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo states accounted for 88 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded during the period under review.

It identified people aged between 21 and 30 years as the predominant age group affected by the disease.

The agency also reported that no new healthcare worker was infected during Week 39 of the reporting period.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings where appropriate infection prevention and control measures are not observed.

The latest figures highlight the continuing public health challenge posed by Lassa fever in Nigeria, with the rising case fatality rate underscoring the need for early detection, prompt treatment and strengthened preventive measures.