Lassa Fever Tightens Grip On Nigeria, Claims 214 Lives Across 23 States, NCDC Alerts

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 Lagos – Nigeria’s battle against Lassa fever has taken a more troubling turn, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosing that the disease has claimed 214 lives so far in 2026, while the fatality rate has climbed sharply to 25 percent.

The latest Epidemiological Week 23 report, covering June 1 to June 7, revealed that 13 new confirmed infections and four additional deaths were recorded across Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states.

Although the number of new infections remained unchanged from the previous reporting week, the increase in deaths has heightened concerns over the severity of the outbreak and the effectiveness of early intervention efforts.

According to the NCDC, Nigeria has recorded a cumulative total of 855 confirmed cases from 5,652 suspected infections reported across 23 states and 109 local government areas this year, underscoring the continued spread of the viral haemorrhagic disease across the country.

The agency noted that the current fatality rate of 25 percent represents a significant increase when compared with the corresponding period in 2025, when 143 deaths were recorded from 758 confirmed cases, resulting in a fatality rate of 18.9 percent.

Data contained in the report showed that five states – Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue – account for 84 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded in 2026. Ondo State remains the epicentre of the outbreak with 28 percent of confirmed cases, followed closely by Bauchi State with 25 percent, while Taraba accounts for 15 percent.

The NCDC further disclosed that the disease continues to affect predominantly young adults between the ages of 21 and 30, although infections have been recorded among persons ranging from one year to 93 years old.

Explaining the rising death rate, the agency pointed to late presentation of cases at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour among affected persons and the high cost of treatment. These factors, it said, continue to undermine efforts to reduce mortality associated with the disease.

“The number of suspected and confirmed cases has increased compared to the same period in 2025, while late presentation continues to contribute to the higher fatality rate,” the agency stated.

The report also identified poor environmental sanitation and low levels of public awareness in some high-burden communities as major factors sustaining transmission of the disease.

Despite the growing concern, the NCDC said response activities remain active at both national and state levels, including surveillance, case management, community sensitisation and the training of frontline health workers. It also noted that no healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week.

The agency urged Nigerians to maintain strict hygiene practices, prevent contact with rodents and seek immediate medical attention upon experiencing symptoms of the infection.

This includes, fever, weakness, sore throat or unexplained bleeding, warning that early diagnosis and treatment remain critical to improving survival rates and containing the outbreak.