Nigeria Lassa fever fatalities rise to 237 in 2026

Nigeria is experiencing a significant rise in Lassa fever fatalities, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reporting 237 deaths from 1,000 confirmed cases during the first 30 epidemiological weeks of 2026. The case fatality rate has climbed to 23.7%, an increase from the 18.8% recorded during the same period in 2025.

The outbreak has spread across 23 states and 116 local government areas. Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, and Benue—account for 86% of all confirmed infections. Ondo and Bauchi have recorded the highest numbers, contributing 32% and 25% of cases, respectively.

Health authorities attribute the rising death toll to patients seeking medical treatment at late stages of the illness. Contributing factors to the outbreak include poor sanitation, limited community awareness, and delays in seeking care. Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent excreta, though person-to-person transmission via bodily fluids is also possible. The most affected demographic is young adults aged 21 to 30.