Nigeria reports rise in Lassa fever cases

2 min read

Nigeria recorded 31 new confirmed Lassa fever cases in epidemiological week 26, up from 22 the prior week, the NCDC said. The agency reported 221 cumulative deaths in 2026 and a case fatality rate of 24.0 percent, higher than the 18.7 percent recorded in 2025. Twenty-three states and 111 local government areas have reported at least one confirmed case, with 85 percent of confirmed infections concentrated in Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue; Ondo accounted for 30 percent and Bauchi 26 percent. People aged between 21 and 30 years were most affected, one healthcare worker was infected, and the national incident management system remains activated.

Lassa fever case fatality rate reached 24.0 percent in 2026.