Nigeria Lassa Fever Death Toll Reaches 214 as Fatality Rate Rises to 25%

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports that 214 people have died from Lassa fever in the country, with a case fatality rate of 25 % for the week of 1‑7 June 2026. This marks a sharp increase from the 18.9 % rate recorded for the same period in 2025.

The outbreak now spans 23 states and 109 local government areas, with 855 confirmed cases. Five states account for roughly 84 % of confirmed infections: Ondo (28 %), Bauchi (25 %), Taraba (15 %), Edo (10 %) and Benue (6 %). Young adults aged 21‑30 are the most affected demographic. No new infections among healthcare workers were reported during the reporting week.

The NCDC says the National Lassa Fever Multi‑Partner, Multi‑Sectoral Incident Management System remains active, supporting surveillance, case management, contact tracing and community engagement. Partners include the WHO, U.S. CDC, UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières, which are helping with risk communication, training and provision of protective equipment.