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Nigeria Lassa fever outbreak – October 2026

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2026-09-22 16:07 UTC → 2026-10-19 06:31 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Nigeria Lassa fever outbreak – ~~September~~ October 2026

By epidemiological week 36, the NCDC reported 1,086 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 259 deaths in 2026. The cumulative case-fatality rate is 23.9%, which remains higher than the 18.6% recorded during the same period in 2025. The outbreak has spread to 24 states and 118 local government areas. Approximately 87% of all confirmed cases are concentrated in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo states. The most affected demographic continues to be young adults aged 21 to 30. In response to the epidemic and to prepare for the seasonal surge typically occurring during the dry season (November to April), the NCDC launched an ‘Accelerated Readiness Plan’. This initiative follows an ‘After Action Review’ of the 2026 response, which identified critical gaps such as delays in patients seeking medical care, instances of self-treatment, and inadequate state-level ownership of response efforts. The review also noted a discrepancy between reported healthcare capacity and actual functionality, highlighting that equipment is ineffective without trained personnel and necessary consumables. The NCDC aims to strengthen the nationwide response chain, focusing on prevention, early detection, diagnosis, referral, and treatment. Recent data indicates the situation is worsening, with confirmed cases rising to 1,138 and deaths increasing to 268. The case fatality rate remains elevated at 23.6%. The outbreak now spans 119 local government areas across 24 states, with five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, and Benue—accounting for 88% of all confirmed cases and deaths. The NCDC attributed these challenges to the high cost of treatment, late presentation at health facilities, and poor health-seeking behavior in affected communities.

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