Lassa Fever Kills 268 in Nigeria as Cases Hit 1,138

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a cumulative total of 1,138 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 268 deaths across the country as of epidemiological week 40 of 2026, with the case fatality rate rising to 23.6 per cent—a sharp increase from the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

The latest situation report, covering weeks 39 and 40, revealed that the outbreak has spread across 24 states and 119 local government areas. While new confirmed cases declined to three in week 40, down from 13 in the preceding week, the cumulative death toll continued to rise, underscoring the lethal nature of the disease even as transmission appears to be slowing.

According to the NCDC, five states—Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo—account for 88 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ondo State recorded the highest burden, followed by Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue. The predominant age group affected is 21 to 30 years, with the report noting no new healthcare worker infections in the reporting week. The concentration of cases in these five states has been a recurring pattern throughout the year, with the NCDC repeatedly identifying them as high-burden areas requiring targeted interventions.

The rising case fatality rate is particularly alarming. At 23.6 per cent, nearly one in four confirmed cases results in death—a significant deterioration from the previous year's figure. Health authorities have consistently attributed the high fatality rate to late presentation of patients at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour linked to the high cost of treatment, and inadequate awareness in high-burden communities. The NCDC has also flagged weak surveillance systems and poor environmental sanitation as contributing factors.

The outbreak's geographic spread remains extensive, with 24 states now having recorded at least one confirmed case. This widespread distribution reflects the endemic nature of Lassa fever in Nigeria and the challenges of containing a disease that is transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. The NCDC has warned that cases occur throughout the year but typically surge during the dry season, creating a predictable pattern that demands proactive preparedness rather than reactive response.

In September, the NCDC issued a stark warning to states and local governments that Nigeria had a narrow window to close critical gaps in preparedness before the peak transmission season began. The agency identified inadequate ownership of outbreak preparedness by some states, over-reliance on federal resources, and delays in releasing funds for outbreak response as persistent challenges. To address these gaps, the NCDC developed an Accelerated Readiness Plan to guide federal and state preparedness, prioritising early detection and reporting, rapid investigation, faster testing of samples, infection prevention and control, and the readiness of treatment centres with adequate stocks of medicines and protective equipment.

The NCDC has also expressed particular concern about healthcare workers, warning that infection-prevention protocols must begin from the first contact with patients. The agency directed that every suspected infection involving a healthcare worker should be investigated, and exposed workers should be properly followed up. At the household level, Nigerians have been urged to store food in rodent-proof containers, block openings through which rodents can enter homes, and avoid handling rodents with bare hands.

The 2026 Lassa fever season has been more severe than the previous year, with confirmed cases rising from 924 to 1,138 and deaths increasing from 172 to 268. The NCDC has linked the surge to a combination of factors, including late presentation, poor environmental sanitation, and the continued circulation of the virus in rodent populations. The agency has called on states and local governments to intensify surveillance, improve laboratory referral systems, and ensure that designated treatment facilities are functional before infections begin to rise.

As Nigeria enters the peak transmission season, the coming months will determine whether the country can reverse the upward trend in cases and deaths. The tools to prevent and treat Lassa fever exist, but the challenge lies in ensuring that they reach the communities that need them most. For the NCDC and state health authorities, the message is clear: the time to act is now, before another preventable tragedy unfolds.