Juliet Oladele, Reporting
NIGERIA recorded 263 deaths from Lassa fever and 1,115 confirmed cases between January and 20 September 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The agency’s situation report, covering 14–20 September, showed that the case fatality rate rose to 23.6 per cent, compared with 18.5 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025.
Within the same period last year, Nigeria recorded 906 confirmed cases and 168 deaths.
“Cumulatively, 263 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 23.6%, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2025 (18.5%),” the report stated.
The NCDC recorded 8,218 suspected cases during the first 38 weeks of 2026, up from 7,792 in the corresponding period of 2025. Confirmed infections were reported across 119 local government areas in 24 states.
Five states — Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue — accounted for approximately 87 per cent of confirmed infections.
Ondo recorded the highest number, with 393 confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 260, Taraba with 133, Edo with 122 and Benue with 61.
During the reporting week, 11 new confirmed cases and four deaths were recorded, while suspected cases stood at 120. The weekly confirmed case count declined from 17 in week 37.
The report identified people aged 21–30 as the most affected age group, with confirmed cases ranging from one to 93 years old.
Although no new healthcare worker infection was recorded during week 38, the cumulative number of affected healthcare workers stood at 54.
The NCDC identified late presentation of patients as a factor contributing to the higher case fatality rate.
It also listed the high cost of treatment and clinical management, poor environmental sanitation, low awareness in heavily affected communities and healthcare worker infections among the challenges facing the response.
The agency urged states to sustain community engagement on prevention throughout the year and called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, ensure timely referral and treatment, and observe infection prevention and control procedures.
Its response activities included support for active case searches and contact tracing, training for frontline healthcare workers, distribution of protective equipment and continued laboratory testing.
The report said the national Lassa fever technical working group continued to support coordination at all levels.
