The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a decline in new Lassa fever infections, even as the country’s death toll from the disease climbed to 268 in 2026.
This was contained in a Lassa Fever Situation Report released on Monday.
The agency recorded three new confirmed cases in epidemiological week 40, covering September 28 to October 4, compared with 13 cases reported in the preceding week.
According to the NCDC’s latest situation report, the new infections were recorded in Bauchi and Benue States.
Despite the decline in weekly infections, Nigeria’s cumulative confirmed cases have risen to 1,138, with 268 deaths recorded since the beginning of the year.
The report put the case fatality rate at 23.6 per cent, higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
It further revealed that 24 states had reported confirmed cases across 119 Local Government Areas, with Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue accounting for 88 per cent of all confirmed infections.
People aged between 21 and 30 years remained the most affected age group, while no new infection among healthcare workers was reported during the week under review.
The NCDC identified late presentation at health facilities, high treatment costs, poor environmental sanitation and inadequate public awareness in high-burden communities as major challenges to controlling the disease.
To address the challenges, the agency urged state governments to intensify year-round community engagement on Lassa fever prevention, particularly in affected communities.
It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for the disease, ensure prompt referral and treatment of suspected cases, and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control procedures.
The agency called for stronger state-level capacity to prevent, detect and respond promptly to Lassa fever outbreaks.
In its previous report covering September 21 to 27, the NCDC recorded 13 new confirmed cases in Ondo State, bringing the cumulative infections to 1,134, with 267 deaths and a case fatality rate of 23.6 per cent.
