The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a fresh rise in Lassa fever infections, with the total number of confirmed cases climbing to 963 and the death toll increasing to 229 in 2026.
According to the agency’s latest Lassa Fever Situation Report, released on Friday, confirmed cases increased in epidemiological week 28 after a brief decline the previous week.
The report showed that new infections dropped from 31 cases in week 26 to 14 cases in week 27, before rising again to 25 confirmed cases in week 28, indicating that the disease is still spreading across affected states.
The latest cases were recorded in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi and Cross River States, while week 27 cases were reported in Ondo, Edo, Benue, Bauchi and Kogi.
As of week 28, Nigeria has recorded 963 confirmed cases and 229 deaths, giving a case fatality rate of 23.8 percent, which is higher than the 18.7 percent recorded during the same period in 2025.
The NCDC also noted that by the end of week 27, the country had reported 936 confirmed cases and 224 deaths, with a fatality rate of 23.9 percent.
The agency said 23 states have recorded at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever this year, with the disease spreading across 114 local government areas.
It added that the majority of infections remain concentrated in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo States, which accounted for about 86 percent of all confirmed cases in week 28.
According to the report, people between the ages of 21 and 30 years remain the most affected group.
The NCDC also disclosed that while no healthcare worker was infected during week 27, one healthcare worker contracted the disease in week 28.
The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by supporting early case detection, prompt treatment, strict infection prevention measures and increased public awareness to help reduce transmission and prevent more deaths.
Source: NAN.
