Nigeria has recorded 1,115 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 263 deaths across 24 states and 119 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 2026, with the disease maintaining a higher fatality rate than the corresponding period last year.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological week 38, covering September 14-20, 2026, disclosed that the cumulative Case Fatality Rate (CFR) stood at 23.6 per cent, compared with 18.5 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and is transmitted to humans primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents.

The disease can cause severe illness and death, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

According to the report, 11 new confirmed cases were recorded during the week, representing a decline from the 17 cases reported in epidemiological week 37.

The new cases were reported in Ondo, Edo and Taraba states. But despite the decline in weekly infections, the NCDC said the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases in 2026 remained higher than those recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

The agency said five states, namely, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue, accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded so far this year.

Ondo State alone accounted for 35 per cent of the confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 23 per cent, Taraba 12 per cent, Edo 11 per cent and Benue six per cent. The remaining 13 per cent of confirmed cases were reported from 18 other states that have recorded cases of the disease.

The NCDC further reported that people aged between 21 and 30 years remained the most affected age group, although confirmed cases ranged from one to 93 years, with a median age of 30 years.

The report further indicated that the gender distribution showed a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.9, indicating a relatively close distribution between male and female patients.

The latest report also showed that no new healthcare worker was infected with Lassa fever during epidemiological week 38.

The NCDC said the National Lassa Fever Multisectoral Multi-partner Technical Working Group (TWG) continued to support the coordination of response activities at national, state and local government levels.

The NCDC had earlier reported 1,104 confirmed cases and 259 deaths as of epidemiological week 37, giving a CFR of 23.5 per cent. The latest figures therefore represent an additional 11 confirmed cases and four deaths in the cumulative tally. (The Sun)

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