Nigeria reports 1,086 Lassa fever cases and 259 deaths in 2026

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,086 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 259 deaths across 24 states and 118 Local Government Areas in 2026. According to the situation report for epidemiological week 36, which covered August 31 to September 6, 2026, there were 12 new confirmed cases reported in Ondo, Edo, and Kogi states.

The cumulative case fatality rate (CFR) stands at 23.9 per cent, which is higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025. Approximately 87 per cent of all confirmed cases in 2026 have been concentrated in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo states. The agency noted that the most affected age group remains young adults between 21 and 30 years old.