Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives across Nigeria in 2026, with the case fatality rate rising sharply to 25 per cent, according to the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The agency disclosed in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23 (June 1 to June 7, 2026) that the fatality rate marks a significant increase from 18.9 per cent recorded over the same period in 2025.
It noted that new confirmed cases remained stable within the reporting week, matching figures recorded in Week 22. Infections were recorded in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states, while no new healthcare worker infections were reported during the period.
“The outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas since January 2026,” the report stated.
Data from the NCDC shows that five states account for the majority of confirmed cases, representing 84 per cent of the total burden. Ondo leads with 28 per cent, followed by Bauchi (25 per cent), Taraba (15 per cent), Edo (10 per cent) and Benue (six per cent). The remaining 16 per cent are distributed across 18 other states with confirmed infections.
The agency also reported that young adults remain the most affected group, with the predominant age range between 21 and 30 years. Cases span from one to 93 years, with a median age of 30.
Although no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded in Week 23, the NCDC warned that the rising fatality rate and wider geographical spread point to continued transmission.
It added that surveillance and case management efforts are ongoing across all affected states under the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System, which remains active to coordinate response at federal, state and local levels.
