Nigeria has recorded 1,138 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 268 deaths across 24 states and 119 local government areas as of epidemiological week 40 of 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC’s latest situation report, covering September 28 to October 4, put the case fatality rate at 23.6 per cent, up from 18.6 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025.
Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue accounted for 88 per cent of confirmed cases, with Ondo recording the highest proportion at 36 per cent. Three new cases and one death were reported during the week under review.
According to the NCDC, “Three new confirmed cases were recorded in week 40, representing a decline from the 13 cases reported in the preceding week.”
The agency attributed the high fatality rate partly to late presentation at health facilities, high treatment costs, poor health-seeking behaviour and inadequate environmental sanitation. It also reported that 54 healthcare workers had been infected cumulatively in 2026.
The NCDC said it had intensified surveillance, contact tracing, healthcare worker protection, community engagement and infection prevention measures.
It urged healthcare workers to “maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever,” ensure prompt referral and treatment of suspected cases, and comply with infection prevention and control procedures.
Nigeria records 268 deaths, 1,138 confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2026 – NCDC