NIGERIA: Nigeria has recorded 1,086 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 259 deaths across 24 states and 118 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The latest figures were contained in the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological week 36, covering August 31 to September 6, 2026.
The agency said 12 new confirmed cases were recorded during the week, a decline from the 18 cases reported in epidemiological week 35.
According to the report, the new infections were recorded in Ondo, Edo and Kogi states.
Despite the decline in weekly infections, the cumulative number of deaths rose from 258 in week 35 to 259 in week 36, while the number of confirmed cases increased from 1,074 to 1,086.
The resulting case fatality rate (CFR) stood at 23.9 per cent, slightly lower than the 24.0 per cent recorded at the end of week 35 but significantly higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The NCDC said 24 states had reported at least one confirmed Lassa fever case across 118 LGAs as of epidemiological week 36.
The disease burden remained concentrated in five states — Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo — which accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded in 2026.
The predominant age group affected by the disease remained people aged between 21 and 30 years, according to the agency.
The NCDC also reported that no new healthcare worker was infected during epidemiological week 36.
The latest figures followed the week 35 report, which recorded 18 confirmed cases in Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states.
By the end of week 35, the country had recorded 1,074 confirmed cases and 258 deaths, with a CFR of 24.0 per cent.
The NCDC said the cumulative figures reflected continued transmission of Lassa fever across several parts of the country, with surveillance and response activities ongoing in affected states.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in Nigeria. The disease is primarily associated with exposure to food or household items contaminated by infected multimammate rats, while person-to-person transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings.
The NCDC said continued surveillance was necessary to support early detection, timely response and the protection of healthcare workers and communities.
The agency’s official disease situation-report portal lists the Week 36 Lassa fever report among its national epidemiological updates.
