Abuja: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised alarms over the increasing fatality rate of Lassa fever in Nigeria, despite a decline in weekly confirmed cases. This development has sparked renewed concerns regarding the management of the disease across the nation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NCDC’s Epidemiological Week 14 report for 2026 revealed that confirmed cases decreased from 26 in the previous week to 22. However, the case fatality rate escalated to 24.8 percent, up from 18.8 percent during the same period in 2025, indicating deteriorating outcomes despite fewer infections. The report highlighted that Nigeria has recorded 170 deaths from Lassa fever in 2026, underscoring ongoing challenges related to early detection, timely treatment, and health-seeking behavior nationwide.
The report identified that 22 states and 94 Local Government Areas have reported confirmed cases in 2026, with five states-Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue-accounting for about 84 percent of total infections. Bauchi recorded the highest burden with 27 percent of confirmed cases, followed by Ondo with 22 percent, Taraba with 18 percent, Edo with nine percent, and Benue. Additional affected states included Plateau, Ebonyi, and Kogi, indicating the geographic spread of Lassa fever despite ongoing surveillance and response efforts.
The NCDC reported that the predominant age group affected was between 21 and 30 years, with cases ranging from one to 90 years, and a median age of 30 years. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases stood at 1:0.9, showing similar infection rates between genders, slightly higher among males.
Infections among healthcare workers during the reporting week raised concerns about infection prevention and control compliance in treatment centers. While suspected cases have declined, confirmed cases remain higher compared to 2025, suggesting sustained community transmission and gaps in containment measures.
The NCDC, with partners including World Health Organization, UNICEF, M©decins Sans Fronti¨res, and the US CDC, activated a national response framework. A multi-sectoral Incident Management System was deployed to coordinate response efforts, enhance surveillance, and strengthen interventions to reduce transmission and fatalities.
Interventions included infection prevention training for health workers, distribution of personal protective equipment, active case search, contact tracing, and community sensitization campaigns in high-burden areas. Rapid response teams were deployed to seven high-burden states, and treatment centers continued receiving essential medical supplies for case management.
Despite these efforts, the NCDC highlighted ongoing challenges such as late case presentation, poor health-seeking behavior due to high treatment costs, inadequate sanitation, and low public awareness. The agency urged state governments to strengthen community engagement and advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever and adhere to infection prevention protocols.
The agency emphasized that sustained multi-sectoral collaboration is critical to reducing transmission, improving treatment outcomes, and lowering deaths associated with Lassa fever across Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents.