Nigeria has recorded a fresh increase in confirmed Lassa fever cases after a brief decline, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reporting that cumulative infections have risen to 963 and deaths to 229 in 2026.
The latest Lassa fever situation report, released by the NCDC on Friday, showed that confirmed cases increased from 14 in epidemiological week 27 to 25 in week 28, reversing the downward trend recorded after cases fell from 31 in week 26 to 14 in week 27.
According to the agency, the resurgence indicates that transmission remains active across affected states despite ongoing surveillance and response efforts.
Week 28 infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi and Cross River states, while the previous week’s cases were recorded in Ondo, Edo, Benue, Bauchi and Kogi.
As of epidemiological week 28, Nigeria has recorded 963 confirmed cases and 229 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 23.8 percent. The figure is significantly higher than the 18.7 percent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The report noted that by the end of week 27, the country had documented 936 confirmed cases and 224 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 23.9 percent, compared to 18.9 percent during the same period last year.
The NCDC said Lassa fever has now been confirmed in 23 states, with affected local government areas increasing from 113 in week 27 to 114 in week 28.
The agency noted that Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo continue to account for the overwhelming majority of infections, contributing 85 percent of confirmed cases in week 27 and 86 percent in week 28.
Young adults remain the most affected demographic, with people aged 21 to 30 years accounting for the highest number of infections.
The report also revealed that while no healthcare worker contracted the disease during week 27, one healthcare worker was infected in week 28, underscoring the continued occupational risks faced by frontline medical personnel.
The NCDC urged state governments, healthcare facilities and communities to sustain disease surveillance, ensure early detection and prompt treatment of cases, strengthen infection prevention and control measures, and intensify public awareness campaigns to curb transmission and reduce fatalities.
