Nigeria Reports 252 Lassa Fever Deaths in 2026

In the first 33 epidemiological weeks of 2026, Nigeria has reported 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, resulting in 252 deaths across 23 states and 117 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with a fatality rate of 24.4%. The latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) covering August 10 to 16 indicated 14 new confirmed cases and two deaths in week 33, marking an increase from the 854 confirmed cases and 159 deaths during the same period in 2025, when the Case Fatality Rate was 18.6%.

The majority of cases were reported from Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, and Benue states. The NCDC noted that 54 healthcare workers have been affected in 2026, with no new infections reported during week 33.

The agency is intensifying interventions, including training healthcare workers and deploying National Rapid Response Teams in high-burden states. A 30-day Healthcare Worker Protection Plan has been developed to reduce infections among frontline health workers.