Lassa fever death toll hits 214, mortality rate jumps to 25% according to NCDC findings

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Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives in Nigeria, with the case fatality rate rising to 25 per cent, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said.

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This was contained in the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23 (June 1 to June 7, 2026).

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The agency said the fatality rate represents a sharp increase from the 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

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It added that both suspected and confirmed cases have also increased compared to the corresponding period last year.

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“New confirmed cases remained steady in Week 23, 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.

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“The outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas since January 2026,” the report stated.

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According to the agency, five states account for 84 per cent of all confirmed cases.

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“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 with confirmed infections,” it added.

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The agency noted that young adults remain the most affected demographic.

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According to the NCDC, the predominant age group is 21–30 years, with cases ranging from one to 93 years and a median age of 30 years.

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The agency said that, to coordinate the response, the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System remains activated.

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It explained that the IMS is supporting response activities at the federal, state and local government levels.

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Although no new healthcare worker infection was reported in Week 23, the NCDC said the higher fatality rate and wider geographical spread indicate continued transmission.

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According to the agency, surveillance and case management efforts are ongoing across the 23 affected states.

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