Nigeria has recorded 259 deaths from Lassa fever in the first 36 epidemiological weeks of 2026, with Ondo and Bauchi states accounting for the highest number of fatalities.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in its latest Lassa Fever Situation Report covering August 31 to September 6, 2026.
According to the report, 1,086 confirmed cases have been recorded across 24 states and 118 Local Government Areas since the beginning of the year.
The figures translate to a case fatality rate of 23.9 per cent, meaning nearly one in every four confirmed patients has died.
The rate is significantly higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
Ondo recorded 89 deaths, the highest among the affected states, while Bauchi followed with 36 fatalities.
The concentration of infections is also pronounced. Five states, namely Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue, accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed cases reported nationally in 2026.
Ondo alone contributed 34 per cent of the confirmed infections, followed by Bauchi with 24 per cent, Taraba with 12 per cent, Edo with 11 per cent and Benue with six per cent.
The latest figures came after 12 new confirmed infections were recorded during epidemiological week 36.
The fresh cases were detected in Ondo, Edo and Kogi states, according to the NCDC.
Although weekly infections fell from 18 cases in week 35 to 12 in week 36, the cumulative burden continued to rise. Confirmed cases moved from 1,074 to 1,086, while the death toll increased from 258 to 259.
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The case fatality rate consequently edged down from 24.0 per cent to 23.9 per cent.
The figures point to a significant distinction between the number of new infections recorded in a particular week and the severity of the disease among confirmed patients.
A decline in weekly cases does not immediately translate into a lower national death toll because fatalities may occur among patients diagnosed during earlier reporting periods.
The NCDC also reported that people aged between 21 and 30 years constituted the predominant age group affected by Lassa fever during the period under review.
No new healthcare worker infection was recorded in week 36, according to the agency.
The absence of a new infection among health workers offers a notable development in a disease that can spread through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people, particularly in healthcare settings.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic to Nigeria. Early detection and treatment are important because severe disease can lead to serious complications and death.
The NCDC has continued surveillance and response activities across affected states as health authorities track new infections, fatalities and possible transmission.
The latest report also shows that the geographical spread of confirmed infections extends beyond the five states carrying most of the national burden. A total of 24 states and 118 LGAs have recorded at least one confirmed case this year.
The distribution means that the national picture cannot be understood from the headline figures alone. While five states account for most infections, 19 other states have also recorded confirmed cases.
The situation also highlights the difference between infection concentration and mortality. Ondo has recorded the largest number of confirmed infections and the highest death toll, while Bauchi ranks among the states carrying a substantial share of the national burden.
Nigeria’s recent figures also compare unfavourably with the same point in 2025 on case fatality. The NCDC recorded a 23.9 per cent CFR in 2026 against 18.6 per cent in the corresponding period last year.
That increase means the disease has produced a higher proportion of deaths among confirmed cases this year, even though the number of newly confirmed infections fell during the latest reporting week.
The NCDC’s surveillance therefore continues to focus on affected communities, with particular attention to states recording sustained transmission.
With 259 deaths already documented from 1,086 confirmed cases, the latest situation report places Lassa fever among the significant infectious disease concerns confronting Nigeria in 2026.
The figures from Ondo and Bauchi also underline the concentration of the disease in specific high-burden states, while the presence of confirmed cases in 24 states indicates that surveillance and rapid response remain essential across the country.
