Nigeria has recorded a fresh increase in Lassa fever infections, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirming 31 new cases during epidemiological week 26 of 2026, up from 22 cases reported the previous week.
According to the NCDC’s latest Lassa fever situation report released on Friday, the newly confirmed cases were recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Benue states.
The agency disclosed that the country has now recorded a cumulative 221 deaths from the disease in 2026, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 24.0 per cent—significantly higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
The report further revealed that 23 states have reported at least one confirmed Lassa fever case across 111 Local Government Areas, underscoring the continued spread of the disease across Nigeria.
Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue—accounted for 85 per cent of all confirmed infections nationwide. Ondo recorded the highest burden, contributing 30 per cent of total confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi (26 per cent), Taraba (14 per cent), Edo (9 per cent) and Benue.
The NCDC also noted that adults between the ages of 21 and 30 remain the most affected demographic, although confirmed infections have been recorded among individuals aged between one and 93 years.
Data from the report showed a male-to-female infection ratio of 1:0.9, indicating that the disease is affecting both sexes at nearly equal rates.
The public health agency said both suspected and confirmed Lassa fever cases have increased compared to the corresponding period in 2025. It also confirmed that one healthcare worker contracted the disease during epidemiological week 26.
The NCDC stated that the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System remains fully activated to coordinate surveillance, case management, risk communication and response efforts aimed at containing the outbreak across the country.
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