Lassa Fever: Nigeria Records 44 New Cases, 6 Deaths In 1 Week

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that the country has recorded a surge in Lassa fever infections, with 44 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths in epidemiological week 5 of 2026.

The new cases were reported in seven states: Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Benue and Ebonyi.

The situation report showed that between epidemiological week one and five, Nigeria has recorded a total of 31 deaths, reflecting a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.8 per cent, slightly lower than the 19.6 per cent recorded during the same period last year.

Cumulatively, nine states have confirmed at least one case across 33 local government areas, indicating the persistent spread of the disease.

The report also showed that most of the infections remain concentrated in five high-burden states, which collectively account for 92 per cent of all confirmed cases: Bauchi (47%), Ondo (18%), Taraba (14%), Edo (8%) and Plateau (5%). The remaining 8 per cent of cases were reported from four other states.

The situation report identified adults aged 21–30 years as the most affected demographic, with cases ranging from infants to the elderly (1-74 years).

Despite the rise in new cases, the NCDC noted a reduction in both suspected and confirmed cases compared to the same period in 2025. However, one healthcare worker was infected in week five, highlighting the continued risks faced by medical personnel.

In response, NCDC said that the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) has been activated to enhance coordination and strengthen interventions across all levels of government.