Nigeria Reports 237 Lassa Fever Deaths in 2026

In the first 30 epidemiological weeks of 2026, Nigeria recorded 237 deaths from 1,000 confirmed Lassa fever cases across 23 states and 116 Local Government Areas, as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The report, covering July 20–26, 2026, indicated a case fatality rate of 23.7%, higher than the 18.8% recorded in the same period in 2025.

Cumulatively, there were 6,960 suspected cases, 1,000 confirmed cases, and six probable cases in 2026. During the week under review, Nigeria had 227 suspected cases, 17 confirmed cases, and six deaths, with confirmed cases reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Benue states.

The NCDC noted that 86% of confirmed cases originated from five states, with Ondo contributing 32%. The predominant age group affected was 21 to 30 years.

The NCDC has intensified efforts in case management and infection prevention, including training healthcare workers and deploying National Rapid Response Teams to high-burden states.