Lassa Fever: NCDC Records 25 New Infections, 5 Deaths In 1 Week

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recorded 25 new confirmed cases of Lassa fever and five additional deaths in one week, raising the country’s cumulative toll to 963 infections and 229 fatalities in 2026.

The agency’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 28 (July 6-12, 2026), revealed that the new confirmed cases represent an increase from the 14 infections recorded in the previous reporting week.

The report showed that the new infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi and Cross River states.

‘Nigeria has now recorded 963 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 229 deaths since the beginning of the year, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 23.8 per cent, significantly higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025,” the report stated.

NCDC said confirmed cases have been recorded in 23 states across 114 local government areas, with Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo states accounting for 86 per cent of all confirmed cases.

It added that young adults aged 21 to 30 years remain the most affected age group, while one healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week.

The report also showed that the five deaths recorded in Week 28 increased the cumulative death toll from 224 fatalities reported in Week 27 to 229.

In the previous reporting week (June 29-July 5), the country recorded 14 new confirmed cases, down from 31 cases in Week 26. The infections were reported in Ondo, Edo, Benue, Bauchi and Kogi states, while no healthcare worker was infected during that period.

NCDC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by maintaining good environmental sanitation, preventing rodent infestation in homes, storing food in rodent-proof containers and seeking prompt medical care if symptoms such as persistent fever, weakness, headache or unexplained bleeding occur.

The agency also advised healthcare workers to continue adhering to infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of transmission in health facilities.