Lassa fever deaths rise to 204 as fatality rate surpasses 2025 level — NCDC

….Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Benue account for 84% of infections

By Chioma Obinna

ABUJA — Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak has claimed 204 lives in 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The agency warned that delayed hospital visits, poor health‑seeking behaviour and increasing infections among healthcare workers are worsening the disease burden across the country.

The most recent situation report for Epidemiological Week 19 shows the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) has risen to 25.7 percent, up from 19.4 percent recorded during the same period in 2025.

Although confirmed cases fell from 22 in Week 18 to 17 in Week 19, the outbreak remains active in several parts of the country, with 23 states and 108 local government areas affected so far this year.

New confirmed infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi, Taraba and Nasarawa states.

The NCDC noted that five states—Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue—account for 84 percent of all confirmed cases nationwide.

“Of the 84 percent confirmed cases, Bauchi and Ondo each contributed 26 percent, Taraba 16 percent, Edo 9 percent and Benue 7 percent,” the agency stated.

The report indicates that young adults aged 21 to 30 remain the most affected group, while patients ranged from one to 90 years old.

The agency confirmed that one healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week, raising concerns over occupational exposure among frontline staff.

In response, the NCDC activated a national multi‑sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate efforts across federal and state levels.

Emergency response activities have intensified nationwide, including infection prevention and control training for healthcare workers, deployment of rapid response teams to seven high‑burden states, active case searches, contact tracing, public sensitisation campaigns and distribution of personal protective equipment to health facilities.

High‑level advocacy visits and emergency coordination meetings have been held in affected states with support from partners such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and ALIMA.

Part of the intervention measures includes a newly developed 30‑day Healthcare Worker Protection Plan aimed at reducing infections among medical personnel in endemic states.

The NCDC identified late presentation of patients at health facilities, poor environmental sanitation, low awareness in affected communities and the high cost of treatment as major factors fuelling the outbreak.

“Poor health‑seeking behaviour due to the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever remains a serious concern,” the agency warned.

The NCDC urged state governments to sustain year‑round sensitisation campaigns on Lassa fever prevention and advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of suspected cases.

“Healthcare workers should adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols while initiating timely referral and treatment for suspected cases,” the report added.

The agency also stressed the need for stronger state‑level preparedness, surveillance and rapid response systems to contain the spread of the disease before the peak transmission season intensifies further.

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