Lassa Fever Surges as NCDC Records 66 Cases, 7 Deaths in Three Weeks

Nigeria is witnessing a renewed surge in Lassa fever infections, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 66 confirmed cases and seven deaths across three consecutive epidemiological weeks, as the outbreak continues to spread across 23 states and 111 local government areas.

According to the NCDC’s latest situation report, released Friday, confirmed cases climbed steadily through the period under review, from 13 confirmed cases and two deaths in Week 24, to 22 cases and three deaths in Week 25, and further to 31 cases and two deaths by Week 26.

The agency said Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue states account for 85 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded so far this year. Cumulatively, Nigeria has recorded 5,801 suspected cases, 868 confirmed infections and 221 deaths in 2026, translating to a Case Fatality Rate of 24 per cent, notably higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

Health officials attributed the elevated fatality rate to late presentation of patients, poor health-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs, poor environmental sanitation, low public awareness, and infections among healthcare workers themselves, with one worker infected during Week 24 alone.

To contain the outbreak, the NCDC said it has activated its multi-sectoral Incident Management System, deployed rapid response teams to high-burden states, strengthened laboratory diagnosis and contact tracing, trained healthcare workers, and scaled up public awareness campaigns with support from local and international partners.

The agency urged Nigerians to maintain good environmental hygiene, avoid contact with rodents, the primary carriers of the Lassa virus, seek immediate medical attention for persistent fever, and avoid self-medication, stressing that early detection and prompt treatment remain critical to reducing further deaths.