Nigeria has recorded 268 deaths from Lassa fever, with 1,138 confirmed cases reported across 119 Local Government Areas in 24 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The latest figures indicate a case fatality rate of 23.6 per cent, higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, raising concerns over the continued impact of the viral disease.
The figures were contained in the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological weeks 39 and 40, covering September 21 to October 4, 2026.
According to the report, Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo states accounted for 88 per cent of confirmed cases recorded during the reporting period, while people aged between 21 and 30 years remained the most affected group.
The agency, however, reported no new infections among healthcare workers during the two weeks under review.
A breakdown of the figures showed that Nigeria recorded three new confirmed cases in week 40, covering September 28 to October 4, representing a decline from the 13 cases reported in the preceding week.
The three new infections were recorded in Bauchi and Benue states, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 1,138 and fatalities to 268 by the end of the reporting period.
During week 39, which covered September 21 to September 27, the country recorded 13 new confirmed cases, compared with 11 cases reported in week 38.
The infections recorded in week 39 were reported in Ondo State, increasing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 1,134 and deaths to 267.
Despite the decline in new infections in week 40, the NCDC’s figures showed that the overall case fatality rate remained significantly higher than the level recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The development underscores the need for sustained surveillance, early diagnosis and effective treatment, alongside stronger public awareness and preventive measures to reduce infections and fatalities.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic dis
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food, household items or surfaces contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats.
The disease can also spread from person to person through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces or other bodily fluids of an infected individual, particularly in healthcare settings where appropriate infection prevention and control measures are not observed.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain proper environmental sanitation and adopt measures to prevent contact with infected rodents.
It advised households to store food in rodent-proof containers, keep their surroundings clean and avoid contact with rats to minimise the risk of infection.
The agency also stressed the importance of preventive practices to limit exposure to infected rodents and curb further transmission of the disease.
Lassa fever remains a public health concern in Nigeria, where timely detection, prompt medical attention and strict infection prevention measures are essential to reducing the risk of severe illness and death.
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