Nigeria has recorded 263 deaths from Lassa fever in the first 38 epidemiological weeks of 2026, with the fatality rate rising to 23.6 per cent, compared with 18.5 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The agency disclosed this in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 38, covering September 14 to 20, 2026, which showed that the country had recorded 1,115 confirmed cases and six probable cases from 8,218 suspected cases as of the reporting week.
The report indicated that the 263 deaths recorded among confirmed cases represented a significant increase from the 168 deaths reported during the same period in 2025, when 906 confirmed cases were recorded.
According to the NCDC, 24 states and 119 local government areas had recorded at least one confirmed case of the disease in 2026 as of epidemiological week 38.
Five states accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed cases, underscoring the concentration of the outbreak in a handful of locations.
Ondo State accounted for the highest proportion at 35 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 23 per cent, Taraba with 12 per cent, Edo with 11 per cent and Benue with six per cent.
The report showed that Ondo had recorded 393 confirmed cases and 91 deaths, while Bauchi reported 260 confirmed cases and 36 deaths.
Taraba recorded 133 confirmed cases and 43 deaths, while Edo had 122 confirmed cases and 27 deaths. Benue recorded 61 confirmed cases and 15 deaths.
Together, the five states accounted for the overwhelming majority of confirmed infections reported nationally.
Although new confirmed infections declined during the latest reporting week, deaths continued to be recorded.
The NCDC reported 11 new confirmed cases in epidemiological week 38, down from 17 in the preceding week. The new infections were recorded in Ondo, Edo and Taraba states.
However, four deaths were recorded among confirmed cases during the week, representing a case fatality rate of 36.4 per cent for the reporting period.
The weekly fatality rate was higher than the cumulative rate of 23.6 per cent recorded for the year, although the two figures cover different reporting periods and case totals.
The agency also reported 120 suspected cases during the week, with no new probable cases recorded.
No additional healthcare worker was affected during the reporting week, although the cumulative number of healthcare workers affected by Lassa fever in 2026 stood at 54.
The NCDC report identified people aged 21 to 30 years as the most affected age group, with confirmed cases recorded among individuals ranging from one to 93 years old. The median age of affected patients was 30 years.
The report also showed that the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases was 1:0.9, indicating a broadly similar distribution between the sexes.
The agency identified late presentation at health facilities as one of the major challenges contributing to the high fatality rate.
It also highlighted poor health-seeking behaviour associated with the high cost of treatment and clinical management, inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden communities, limited public awareness and infections among healthcare workers.
The NCDC recommended that state governments strengthen community engagement on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year.
It urged healthcare workers to maintain a high level of suspicion for the disease, ensure timely referral and treatment, and adhere strictly to standard infection prevention and control procedures.
The agency also called for stronger state capacity to prevent, detect and respond promptly to outbreaks.