Posted on: Tue 23-06-2026

Nigeria's ongoing battle against Lassa fever has reached a troubling milestone, with 214 deaths and 855 confirmed infections recorded in the first 23 weeks of 2026, according to the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The latest Lassa Fever Situation Report released by the NCDC reveals that the disease continues to pose a significant public health threat, with the current case fatality rate standing at 25.0 percent, substantially higher than the 18.9 percent recorded during the same period in 2025.

Health experts have expressed concern over the rising mortality rate, describing it as an indication of persistent challenges in early diagnosis, timely treatment, and community-level disease surveillance.

 

Disease Spreads Across 23 States

According to the report, confirmed Lassa fever cases have now been reported in 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas nationwide. Five states Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo account for approximately 84 percent of all confirmed infections, making them the country's major disease hotspots.

The most affected demographic remains young adults aged 21 to 30 years, a trend that continues to raise concerns about the socioeconomic impact of the disease on Nigeria's productive population.

While the NCDC reported that no new healthcare worker infection was recorded during Week 23, public health authorities maintain that frontline healthcare personnel remain among the most vulnerable groups during outbreaks due to frequent exposure to infected patients and biological samples.

 

Rising Cases Raise Public Health Concerns

The report indicates that both suspected and confirmed cases have increased compared to the corresponding period in 2025, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance among healthcare institutions and public health authorities.

Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, remains endemic in several parts of Nigeria. Human to human transmission can also occur, particularly within healthcare settings where infection prevention measures are inadequate.

Public health specialists warn that delayed case presentation and late diagnosis continue to contribute significantly to poor clinical outcomes and increased mortality.

 

Strengthening Healthcare Response

In response to the outbreak, the NCDC, in collaboration with national and international partners, has intensified disease control efforts through infection prevention and control training, active case searches, contact tracing, laboratory testing, and community sensitisation campaigns.

Additional interventions include the activation of Incident Management Systems in affected states, deployment of personal protective equipment, support to treatment centres, and specialized capacity-building programmes for healthcare workers managing Lassa fever cases.

Development partners supporting the response include the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and other stakeholders committed to strengthening Nigeria's epidemic preparedness and response capacity.

 

Persistent Challenges Threaten Control Efforts

Despite ongoing interventions, the NCDC identified several barriers to effective disease control. These include delayed healthcare-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs, inadequate environmental sanitation, low community awareness, and the continued risk of healthcare-associated infections.

 

Experts note that addressing these challenges requires a coordinated approach involving government agencies, healthcare institutions, community leaders, and development partners.

 

Call to Healthcare Workers

The NCDC has urged healthcare professionals across the country to maintain a high index of suspicion when managing patients presenting with compatible symptoms, particularly in endemic areas.

Healthcare workers were also advised to ensure prompt referral of suspected cases, adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols, and support ongoing surveillance efforts through timely reporting.

As Nigeria continues to confront recurrent outbreaks of Lassa fever, public health experts stress that strengthening early detection systems, improving access to treatment, and protecting frontline healthcare workers remain critical to reducing mortality and preventing further spread of the disease.

With more than 200 lives already lost this year, the latest figures serve as a stark reminder that Lassa fever remains one of Nigeria's most pressing infectious disease challenges.

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