Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a fresh surge in Lassa fever infections, with the disease claiming 221 lives so far in 2026 despite intensified surveillance and response efforts across affected states.
According to the NCDC, the outbreak has now spread across 23 states and 111 Local Government Areas (LGAs), highlighting the continued public health threat posed by the viral disease. The agency said 85 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded this year originated from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo states, which remain Nigeria’s major endemic areas.
The latest epidemiological reports indicate a steady rise in infections over recent weeks, with 66 confirmed cases and seven deaths recorded within a three-week period. The NCDC noted that young adults aged 21 to 30 years remain the most affected age group, while healthcare workers continue to face occupational risks from the disease.
The agency said Nigeria has recorded a case fatality rate of 24.0 per cent in 2026, significantly higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. Health authorities attributed the high fatality rate to late presentation of patients, poor health-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs, inadequate environmental sanitation, low public awareness, and infections among healthcare workers.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by maintaining good environmental hygiene, preventing rodent infestation in homes, storing food properly, and seeking prompt medical attention whenever symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache, sore throat, or unexplained bleeding occur.
