Lassa Fever
At least 17 people have died following a renewed outbreak of Lassa fever in eight states of the country, raising fresh concerns among public health authorities as Nigeria enters the peak season for the viral disease.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed the deaths in its latest epidemiological report covering the first three weeks of 2026. According to the report, a total of 93 laboratory-confirmed cases have been recorded nationwide during the period under review.
States currently affected by the outbreak include Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Benue and Nasarawa, with Bauchi emerging as the epicentre, accounting for about 46 per cent of all reported infections.
The NCDC disclosed that the case fatality rate stands at 18.1 per cent, a marginal drop from the 18.2 per cent recorded during the same period in the previous year. Health officials noted that the majority of confirmed cases were concentrated in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo, which together accounted for nearly 89 per cent of the total infections.
The agency also raised concern over the exposure of medical personnel, revealing that four healthcare workers were infected during the reporting week, highlighting the growing risks faced by frontline health workers managing the outbreak.
While Lassa fever outbreaks are common during the dry season, health experts continue to stress the importance of early medical attention, strict hygiene practices and increased public awareness to curb transmission, particularly in high-risk states where infection numbers are once again on the rise.
