NCDC reports 1,138 Lassa fever cases, 268 f@talities

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,138 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 268 fatalities across 24 states, with the cumulative case fatality rate standing at 23.6 percent.

According to the agency's Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological weeks 39 and 40—covering September 21 to October 4, 2026, the current fatality rate marks an increase from the 18.6 percent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
 

The report details that 119 Local Government Areas (LGAs) nationwide have recorded at least one confirmed case. Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo states accounted for 88 percent of all confirmed infections during the reporting timeframe.

Demographic data from the NCDC indicates that individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 represent the predominant age group affected by the viral outbreak. Notably, no new healthcare workers were infected during the two-week reporting window.
 

Epidemiological week 40, which ran from September 28 to October 4, recorded three new confirmed cases across Bauchi and Benue states, reflecting a decline from the 13 cases documented in week 39. In the preceding week 39, all 13 reported cases were identified in Ondo State.
 

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted through contact with food or domestic items contaminated by infected rodent urine or feces. Secondary transmission can also occur through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, particularly within clinical settings where infection prevention protocols are compromised.
 

Health authorities advise members of the public to practice strict environmental sanitation, secure food items in rodent-proof containers, and minimize contact with rodents to mitigate infection risks.