NCDC Confirms 167 Lassa Fever Deaths Across Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a sharp rise in Lassa fever fatalities in 2026, despite a decline in new confirmed cases in the latest reporting week.

According to the NCDC’s Epidemiological Week 13 report, made available on Thursday, 167 deaths have been recorded so far this year. The case fatality rate (CFR) currently stands at 25.2 per cent, up from 18.5 per cent during the same period in 2025.

The agency noted 26 new confirmed cases in Week 13, down from 51 cases reported the previous week. The cases were recorded across seven states: Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Benue, and Kaduna.

Despite the week-on-week decline, the overall burden remains high, with 663 confirmed cases out of 3,831 suspected cases reported across 22 states and 93 Local Government Areas in 2026. Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue accounted for 85 per cent of all confirmed cases.

Young adults aged 21 to 30 were identified as the most affected group, with a median age of 30 years. Persistent challenges driving high fatality rates include late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs, low awareness, and poor environmental sanitation in high-burden communities.

No new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting week.

In response, the NCDC activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate national response efforts. Collaborating with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, and MSF, the agency has intensified surveillance, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns, alongside targeted interventions like healthcare worker protection plans and infection prevention strategies in high-burden states.

The agency urged state governments to strengthen year-round community engagement and called on healthcare workers to maintain vigilance for early detection and treatment. Public health experts warned that the rising fatality rate, despite improved response efforts, underscores the urgent need to address systemic gaps in early diagnosis and access to care.

Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. Nigeria records cases annually, particularly during the dry season when exposure to infected rodents increases. Health authorities emphasized that early detection, prompt treatment, and strict infection control remain critical to reducing mortality and preventing outbreaks.