The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a fresh increase in confirmed Lassa fever infections, with 31 new cases recorded during epidemiological week 26 of 2026, up from 22 cases reported the previous week.
According to the agency’s latest Lassa fever situation report released on Friday, the new infections were recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Benue states.
The NCDC said the cumulative death toll from the disease has risen to 221 in 2026, with the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) standing at 24.0 per cent, compared to 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
The report revealed that 23 states have reported at least one confirmed case across 111 Local Government Areas this year, underscoring the continued spread of the disease across the country.
It noted that 85 per cent of all confirmed cases originated from five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue—while the remaining 15 per cent were recorded in other affected states.
Ondo State accounted for the highest number of confirmed infections at 30 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 26 per cent, Taraba with 14 per cent, Edo with nine per cent, and Benue.
The NCDC also stated that individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 remain the most affected demographic, although confirmed cases have been recorded among patients aged between one and 93 years.
According to the report, the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.9, indicating that infections are occurring at nearly equal rates among both sexes.
The agency further disclosed that both suspected and confirmed Lassa fever cases have increased compared with the corresponding period in 2025, while one healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week.
To sustain the response, the NCDC said the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System remains activated to coordinate surveillance, case management, risk communication and other response efforts aimed at containing the outbreak nationwide.
