The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced an increase in confirmed Lassa fever infections across the country, recording 31 new cases during epidemiological week 26 of 2026, compared to the 22 cases reported in the preceding week.
According to the latest Lassa fever situation report released by the agency on Friday, the newly confirmed infections were recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Benue states.
The report further revealed that Nigeria has recorded a cumulative total of 221 deaths from Lassa fever since the beginning of the year, with the disease maintaining a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 24.0 per cent.
The current fatality rate is significantly higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, highlighting the severity of the outbreak this year.
The NCDC disclosed that confirmed Lassa fever cases have now been reported in 23 states and spread across 111 Local Government Areas, reflecting the continued expansion of the disease across the country.
The agency noted that five states continue to account for the overwhelming majority of confirmed infections.
According to the report, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue states contributed 85 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded so far in 2026, while the remaining 15 per cent were reported from other affected states.
Ondo State remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for 30 per cent of confirmed cases nationwide.
Bauchi followed with 26 per cent, Taraba accounted for 14 per cent, Edo contributed nine per cent, while Benue also remained among the most affected states.
The report showed that young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 years continue to represent the most affected demographic.
However, confirmed infections were recorded among patients aged between one and 93 years, with the median age remaining within the young adult population.
The NCDC also stated that the distribution of infections between males and females remains almost equal.
According to the agency, the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases currently stands at 1:0.9, indicating that both genders are similarly affected by the disease.
Health authorities further observed that both suspected and laboratory-confirmed Lassa fever cases have increased when compared with figures recorded during the same period in 2025.
The report also confirmed that one healthcare worker contracted the disease during epidemiological week 26, raising concerns about occupational exposure among frontline medical personnel.
To strengthen the response, the NCDC said the National Lassa Fever multi-partner and multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains fully activated.
The platform continues to coordinate surveillance, laboratory testing, case management, public awareness campaigns, risk communication and other emergency response activities aimed at containing the outbreak across affected states.
