By Seyi Odewale
No fewer than 31 persons have died from Lassa fever in the first five weeks of 2026, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said.
In its latest situation report released on Monday, the agency reported 754 suspected cases during the period, of which 165 were laboratory-confirmed. Nine of those infected were health workers.
The NCDC said, “Cumulatively, as at week five of 2026, 31 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.8 per cent, which is slightly lower than the 19.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.”
According to the report, confirmed infections have been recorded in nine states across 33 local government areas.
It noted that five states — Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Plateau — accounted for 92 per cent of the confirmed cases, while the remaining eight per cent were reported in four other states.
A breakdown showed that Bauchi recorded the highest burden, accounting for 47 per cent of cases, followed by Ondo at 18 per cent, Taraba at 14 per cent, Edo at 8 per cent, and Plateau at 5 per cent.
The agency also revealed that people aged 21 to 30 were the most affected, although patients’ ages ranged from 1 to 74, with a median of 28. It added that the male-to-female ratio of confirmed cases stood at 1:0.8.
The report, however, noted a decline in both suspected and confirmed infections compared to the same period last year.
The NCDC said 135 confirmed cases were currently receiving treatment at designated centres, while 110 suspected cases were under contact tracing and close monitoring.
Highlighting its response measures, the agency said it had carried out a high-level field mission to Bauchi State, activated the Incident Management System at the National Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre, strengthened laboratory testing for early diagnosis, and advocated dedicated funding to support prevention and control efforts.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus and is endemic in Nigeria and other West African countries.
The disease is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats, the common African rodent species.
