Nigeria’s worsening Lassa fever outbreak has claimed 204 lives this year, with health authorities raising fresh concerns over the rising fatality rate and spread of infections across the country.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in its Epidemiological Week 19 report for 2026, disclosed that 17 new confirmed cases were recorded in the latest reporting week, compared to 22 cases in the previous week.
Despite the slight drop in new infections, the agency warned that the outbreak remains a major public health threat as the Case Fatality Rate has risen sharply to 25.7 per cent, higher than the 19.4 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
The latest confirmed cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi, Taraba and Nasarawa states.
According to the NCDC, at least 23 states and 108 Local Government Areas have recorded confirmed cases this year, highlighting the growing spread of the disease nationwide.
The agency noted that people between the ages of 21 and 30 account for the highest number of infections, raising fears over the impact on Nigeria’s productive workforce.
It added that patients affected by the outbreak range from one year old to 90 years old, with a median age of 30 years.
The NCDC further disclosed that five states — Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue — account for 84 per cent of all confirmed infections recorded in the country.
Bauchi and Ondo each contributed 26 per cent of total cases, while Taraba accounted for 16 per cent. Edo recorded nine per cent and Benue seven per cent.
Health officials also expressed concern over infections among healthcare workers after one additional medical worker contracted the disease during the latest reporting week.
Lassa fever is mainly transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, while human-to-human transmission can occur in healthcare settings with poor infection control measures.
The disease often presents with symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache and sore throat, while severe cases may lead to bleeding and organ failure.
The NCDC said it has activated the National Lassa Fever multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate emergency response efforts across affected states.
The agency added that surveillance, case management and community engagement activities are ongoing to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
