Nigeria has recorded 1,115 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 263 deaths across 24 states in 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The figures were contained in the agency’s situation report for epidemiological week 38, covering September 14 to 20, 2026. The report put the case fatality rate at 23.6 per cent, higher than the 18.5 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
Despite the rising death toll, the country recorded a decline in new confirmed infections during the week under review. Eleven cases were reported, compared with 17 in the preceding week. The new infections were recorded in Ondo, Edo and Taraba states.
The NCDC reported that cases had been recorded across 119 local government areas, with Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo accounting for 87 per cent of all confirmed infections. People aged between 21 and 30 remained the most affected age group.
Lassa fever is a viral disease primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings where adequate infection prevention measures are lacking.
The NCDC has urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, store food in rodent-proof containers, dispose of waste appropriately and keep their surroundings clean. Members of the public have also been advised to seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms such as fever, weakness or headaches.
