Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives in Nigeria, with the case fatality rate rising to 25 per cent, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). This marks a sharp increase from the 18.9 per cent fatality rate recorded during the same period in 2025.
NCDC Report Details
The NCDC Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23 (June 1 to June 7, 2026) revealed that new confirmed cases remained steady, matching the number recorded in Week 22. Infections were reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, and Ebonyi states. No new healthcare worker infections were reported during the week.
The outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas since January 2026. Five states account for 84 per cent of all confirmed cases: Ondo leads with 28 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba with 15 per cent, Edo with 10 per cent, and Benue with six per cent. The remaining 16 per cent of cases are spread across 18 other states.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease belonging to the same family as Ebola and Marburg viruses, though it is less deadly. The disease is endemic in Nigeria, with the virus transmitted to humans from contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent faeces or urine. The incubation period ranges from six to 21 days. Human-to-human transmission occurs through contact with infected bodily fluids and excretions, including blood, urine, saliva, reproductive cells, vomit, and faeces.
Ebola Preparedness
In related news, the federal government has identified 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as areas at high or moderate risk of Ebola importation following renewed outbreaks in parts of Africa. The NCDC announced that states across the country have been placed on heightened alert amid fears of cross-border transmission. NCDC director-general Jide Idris confirmed that Nigeria currently has no confirmed Ebola case linked to the ongoing outbreak in East and Central Africa. However, he warned that increasing regional transmission has significantly elevated the country’s importation risk.
The NCDC continues to monitor both Lassa fever and Ebola threats, urging public health vigilance and adherence to preventive measures.
