Nigeria has recorded 1,000 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 237 related deaths across 23 states and 116 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the first 30 epidemiological weeks of 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The latest figures indicate that the disease continues to pose a significant public health challenge, with the case fatality rate rising to 23.7 per cent, compared with 18.8 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
According to the NCDC’s epidemiological report for week 30, covering July 20 to July 26, the country recorded 17 new confirmed infections and six deaths, down from the 20 cases reported in the previous week.
The new infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Benue states. The agency also disclosed that one healthcare worker was among those infected during the reporting period.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus. The disease is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats, a common rodent found in many parts of West Africa. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings where infection prevention and control measures are inadequate.
Health experts say early symptoms of Lassa fever often resemble those of common illnesses such as malaria, making prompt diagnosis difficult. They include fever, weakness, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In severe cases, patients may develop bleeding from the mouth, nose or other body openings, facial swelling, breathing difficulties, shock and organ failure.
The NCDC attributed the high fatality rate to several factors, including delayed presentation at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour, inadequate environmental sanitation and low public awareness about the disease.
The agency advised Nigerians to maintain good hygiene, store food properly to prevent contamination by rodents, keep homes and surroundings clean, and avoid contact with rats and their droppings. It also urged anyone experiencing persistent fever or other symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever to seek medical attention immediately rather than resorting to self-medication.
The NCDC further called on healthcare workers across the country to maintain a high index of suspicion for suspected cases and to strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of transmission within health facilities.
