Nigeria recorded 263 deaths from Lassa fever between January and September 20, 2026, as the disease’s case fatality rate rose to 23.6 per cent, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said.
The figure represents an increase from the 168 deaths recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, when the case fatality rate stood at 18.5 per cent.
The NCDC disclosed this in its situation report covering September 14 to 20, noting that 1,115 confirmed cases had been recorded across 119 local government areas in 24 states.
The agency identified late presentation at health facilities as one of the factors contributing to the higher fatality rate.
It also listed the high cost of treatment, poor environmental sanitation, low awareness in affected communities, and infections among healthcare workers as challenges to controlling the disease.
Ondo State recorded the highest number of confirmed cases, with 393, followed by Bauchi with 260, Taraba with 133, Edo with 122 and Benue with 61. The five states accounted for about 87 per cent of confirmed infections.
The NCDC said 8,218 suspected cases were reported in the first 38 weeks of 2026, compared with 7,792 during the same period last year.
In the week under review, 11 new confirmed cases and four deaths were recorded, while suspected cases stood at 120. The weekly confirmed cases fell from 17 in the preceding week.
People aged between 21 and 30 were the most affected, with confirmed cases recorded among patients aged one to 93 years.
Although no new infection among healthcare workers was reported during the week, the cumulative number of affected health workers stood at 54.
The agency urged state governments to sustain public awareness campaigns on prevention throughout the year.
It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, refer suspected cases promptly, begin treatment early and observe infection prevention and control measures.
The NCDC said its ongoing response included active case searches, contact tracing, training for frontline health workers, the distribution of protective equipment and continued laboratory testing.
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