The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives in Nigeria this year, with the case fatality rate climbing to 25 percent, up from 18.9 percent during the same period in 2025.
NCDC Reports Rising Fatality Rate
In its Week 23 Lassa Fever Situation Report covering June 1 to June 7, 2026, the NCDC noted that the number of new confirmed cases remained unchanged from the previous week. Infections were reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, and Ebonyi states. The outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 local government areas since January, with both suspected and confirmed cases exceeding figures from the same period in 2025.
Five states account for the majority of confirmed infections nationwide. Ondo State leads with 28 percent of cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 percent, Taraba with 15 percent, Edo with 10 percent, and Benue with six percent. The remaining cases are distributed across 18 other states.
Most Affected Age Group
The NCDC stated that young adults remain the most affected age group, with the highest number of infections recorded among people aged 21 to 30 years. Cases have been reported among individuals ranging in age from one to 93 years, with a median age of 30.
Despite the continued spread of the disease, no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting week.
Containment Efforts Underway
To coordinate containment efforts, the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System remains active, supporting response operations at federal, state, and local government levels. The NCDC warned that the increasing fatality rate and continued expansion of the outbreak across multiple states indicate ongoing transmission of the virus. Surveillance, case management, and response activities are continuing in all affected states as authorities work to curb the spread of the disease.
