NCDC Reports 229 Deaths in 2026
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported a rise in Lassa fever cases and deaths in 2026, with a case fatality rate of 23.8 percent. Young adults aged 21 to 30 remain the most affected demographic.
Why it matters
The persistent transmission and high fatality rate of Lassa fever highlight critical public health challenges and the need for continued sanitation and medical intervention in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported an increase in confirmed Lassa fever cases in epidemiological week 28 after a decline in week 27. This is with cumulative confirmed infections rising to 963 and deaths reaching 229 in 2026. According to the NCDC, Lassa Fever situation report released in a statement on Friday, new confirmed cases dropped from 31 in week 26 to 14 in week 27 before increasing to 25 in Week 28. The report said that this indicated continued transmission across affected states. It also said that the week 28 cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi and Cross River, while week 27 cases were recorded in Ondo, Edo, Benue, Bauchi and Kogi.
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