Nigeria’s battle against Lassa fever has taken a deadly turn, with no fewer than 214 lives lost and the fatality rate soaring to 25 per cent, according to the latest report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The alarming figures were contained in the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23, covering June 1 to June 7, 2026.
The agency disclosed that the current fatality rate represents a sharp rise from the 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025, signalling a worsening outbreak across the country.
According to the report, both suspected and confirmed cases have increased compared to last year, with fresh infections recorded in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states.
The NCDC revealed that the outbreak has now spread to 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas since the beginning of the year.
Five states account for the bulk of infections, with Ondo leading the chart with 28 per cent of confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba with 15 per cent, Edo with 10 per cent and Benue with six per cent.
The agency noted that these five states alone contribute 84 per cent of all confirmed cases nationwide.
Young adults remain the hardest-hit group, with the majority of infections occurring among people aged between 21 and 30 years. The age range of infected persons spans from one year to 93 years, with a median age of 30.
Despite recording no new infections among healthcare workers during the reporting week, the NCDC warned that the increasing death rate and expanding geographical spread of the disease remain major concerns.
To tackle the outbreak, the agency said the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System remains fully activated and is coordinating response efforts at federal, state and local government levels.
The NCDC added that surveillance, case management and other emergency response measures are ongoing across all affected states as authorities intensify efforts to contain the deadly disease.
Health experts have repeatedly urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, store food safely and avoid contact with rodents, which remain the primary carriers of the Lassa fever virus.
