Lassa Fever outbreak worsens in Nigeria with case numbers increasing and fatalities reaching 229

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported an increase in confirmed Lassa fever cases in epidemiological week 28 after a decline in week 27.

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This is with cumulative confirmed infections rising to 963 and deaths reaching 229 in 2026.

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According to the NCDC, Lassa Fever situation report released in a statement on Friday, new confirmed cases dropped from 31 in week 26 to 14 in week 27 before increasing to 25 in Week 28.

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The report said that this indicated continued transmission across affected states.

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It also said that the week 28 cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi and Cross River, while week 27 cases were recorded in Ondo, Edo, Benue, Bauchi and Kogi.

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The report showed that as of week 28, Nigeria had recorded 963 confirmed cases and 229 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 23.8 percent, higher than the 18.7 percent recorded during the same period in 2025.

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“For week 27, the country recorded 936 confirmed cases and 224 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 23.9 percent, also higher than the 18.9 percent reported during the corresponding period in 2025,” it said.

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The NCDC said 23 states had recorded at least one confirmed Lassa fever case, with the disease spreading across 113 local government areas in week 27 and increasing to 114 in week 28.

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The agency noted that the majority of confirmed infections remained concentrated in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo, accounting for 85 percent of cases in week 27 and 86 percent in week 28.

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It added that people aged between 21 and 30 years remained the most affected age group, highlighting the continued impact of the disease on young adults.

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The report also revealed that no healthcare worker was infected during week 27, but one healthcare worker contracted the disease during week 28.

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NCDC urged continued surveillance, early case detection, prompt treatment, strict infection prevention and control measures, and sustained community awareness to reduce transmission and prevent further deaths from Lassa fever.

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