The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 66 cases of Lassa fever and seven 66 cases of Lassa fever and seven deaths across the country over three consecutive epidemiological weeks.
The latest situation reports released by the NCDC on Friday show that the infections were recorded between Epidemiological Weeks 24 and 26, with the outbreak affecting 23 states and 111 local government areas.
According to the reports, 13 confirmed cases and two deaths were recorded in Week 24 from 149 suspected cases.
“In Week 25, the figures increased to 22 confirmed cases and three deaths out of 150 suspected cases.
“By Week 26, the country recorded 31 confirmed cases and two deaths from 205 suspected cases,” the NCDC revealed.
“This brings the total for the three-week period to 504 suspected cases, 66 confirmed infections and seven deaths.”
The NCDC said Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue states accounted for 85 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases reported so far this year.
The agency also disclosed that, as of Week 24, Nigeria had recorded a cumulative total of 5,801 suspected cases, 868 confirmed infections and 216 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 24.9 per cent. It noted that the figure was higher than the 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
According to the NCDC, the high fatality rate has been linked to the late presentation of patients at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs, poor environmental sanitation, low public awareness and infections among healthcare workers.
The report also revealed that one healthcare worker was infected during Week 24, highlighting the risks faced by frontline medical personnel.
To contain the outbreak, the NCDC said it had strengthened disease surveillance, activated its multi-sectoral Incident Management System, deployed rapid response teams to affected states, expanded laboratory testing and contact tracing, trained healthcare workers, distributed personal protective equipment, and intensified public awareness campaigns with support from development partners.
The agency urged Nigerians to maintain clean surroundings, prevent contact with rodents, seek medical attention immediately if they develop a persistent fever or other symptoms, and avoid self-medication.
