By Opeyemi Adelakun
Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak has taken a more troubling turn, with 237 people dying from 1,000 confirmed infections recorded across 23 states and 116 Local Government Areas in the first 30 epidemiological weeks of 2026.
The latest figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the country’s case fatality rate had risen to 23.7 per cent, compared with 18.8 per cent recorded during the corresponding period last year.
The figures were contained in the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological week 30, covering July 20 to 26, 2026.
According to the report, Nigeria had recorded 6,960 suspected cases, 1,000 confirmed cases and six probable cases since the beginning of the year.
Although new infections declined slightly during the week under review, the fatality figures underline the continuing danger posed by the disease.
The country recorded 227 suspected cases, 17 confirmed cases and six deaths during the week, with the new confirmed infections reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Benue states.
The 17 confirmed cases represented a decline from the 20 cases recorded in epidemiological week 29.
Despite the weekly decline, the NCDC said suspected and confirmed infections remained higher than those recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.
Five States Carry Bulk Of Nigeria’s Lassa Fever Burden
The outbreak has remained heavily concentrated in five states, which together accounted for 86 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded in 2026.
Ondo contributed the largest share with 32 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba with 13 per cent, Edo with 10 per cent and Benue with six per cent.
The remaining 14 per cent of confirmed infections were distributed across 18 other states.
The data also showed that young adults were the most affected age group, with people aged between 21 and 30 accounting for the largest proportion of confirmed cases.
However, the disease affected a wide age range, with confirmed patients aged between one and 93 years and a median age of 30.
The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases stood at 1:0.9.
Healthcare Workers Remain At Risk
The NCDC disclosed that a healthcare worker contracted Lassa fever during the reporting week, highlighting the continuing exposure of frontline personnel involved in the diagnosis and treatment of infected patients.
In response, the agency and its partners have intensified case management, disease surveillance, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement in affected areas.
The NCDC said it had trained frontline health workers, strengthened infection prevention and control measures, pre-positioned personal protective equipment, supported active case searches and contact tracing, and deployed National Rapid Response Teams to seven high-burden states.
It also introduced a 30-day Healthcare Worker Protection Plan designed to reduce infections among frontline personnel in states where Lassa fever remains prevalent.
The plan is being implemented with support from the World Health Organisation and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Late Treatment, High Costs Fuel Concern
Beyond the spread of the disease, the NCDC identified delayed presentation at health facilities as one of the major obstacles to reducing deaths.
The agency also listed poor health-seeking behaviour associated with the cost of treatment, inadequate environmental sanitation, limited awareness in high-burden communities and infections among healthcare workers among the challenges confronting the response.
The NCDC urged states to sustain public education and community engagement on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year rather than relying solely on seasonal interventions.
It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion when treating patients who may have been exposed to the disease.
“Healthcare workers should maintain high suspicion for Lassa fever and initiate timely referral and treatment, and adhere to standard infection prevention and control procedures,” the agency said.
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