Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives in Nigeria, with the Case Fatality Rate rising sharply to 25.0 percent, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The figure was contained in the agency’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23, covering June 1 to June 7, 2026, which also showed an increase in both suspected and confirmed cases compared to the same period in 2025.
The NCDC noted that new confirmed infections remained stable in Week 23, matching the figures recorded in Week 22. Cases were reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states, with no new infections among healthcare workers recorded during the week.
Since the beginning of 2026, the outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas, indicating continued transmission in multiple regions.
Five states account for the majority of confirmed cases, contributing 84 percent of the total burden: Ondo leads with 28 percent, followed by Bauchi (25 percent), Taraba (15 percent), Edo (10 percent), and Benue (6 percent), while the remaining 16 percent are spread across 18 other states.
The agency also reported that young adults remain the most affected group, with the highest incidence recorded among individuals aged 21 to 30 years. Cases range from one to 93 years, with a median age of 30.
To coordinate response efforts, the NCDC said the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains activated, supporting interventions at federal, state, and local government levels.
While no new healthcare worker infections were reported in Week 23, the agency warned that the rising fatality rate and expanding spread across states point to sustained transmission pressure, with surveillance and case management efforts ongoing nationwide.
