Nigeria has recorded 263 deaths from Lassa fever and 1,115 confirmed cases from January to September 20, 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC’s recent report shows that the death rate from the disease increased to 23.6 percent this year, compared to 18.5 percent during the same period in 2025. Last year, there were 906 confirmed cases and 168 deaths.
In total, there were 8,218 suspected cases reported in the first 38 weeks of 2026, which is an increase from 7,792 in the same timeframe last year. Confirmed cases were found in 119 local government areas across 24 states. Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, and Benue—accounted for about 87 percent of the confirmed cases.
Ondo state had the highest number of confirmed cases at 393, followed by Bauchi with 260, Taraba with 133, Edo with 122, and Benue with 61. In the most recent week, there were 11 new confirmed cases and four deaths, while 120 suspected cases were still under investigation.
The report indicates that people aged 21 to 30 are the most affected group, with confirmed cases ranging from one to 93 years old. Although no new infections among healthcare workers were reported in the past week, a total of 54 healthcare workers have been affected.
The NCDC noted that delays in seeking treatment have contributed to the higher death rate. Other challenges include the high cost of treatment, poor sanitation, low awareness in affected communities, and infections among healthcare workers. The agency is urging states to keep promoting prevention efforts and for healthcare workers to ensure timely treatment and follow safety protocols.
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