Lassa Fever Death Toll Hits 135 As Fatality Rate Surges To 26% — NCDC
•By Admin
ABUJA — THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised fresh concern over Nigeria’s worsening Lassa fever outbreak, revealing that 135 people have died so far in 2026, with the case fatality rate climbing sharply to 26.2 per cent.
In its latest situation report for Epidemiological Week 10 (March 2–8, 2026), the agency disclosed that the fatality rate is significantly higher than the 18.3 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025, despite a slight drop in weekly infections.
The report showed that Nigeria recorded 40 new confirmed cases during the week under review, down from 65 cases reported in the previous week, indicating a modest decline in transmission.
However, cumulative figures paint a more troubling picture. Between January and early March 2026, the country has recorded 516 confirmed cases out of 2,821 suspected infections across 20 states and 78 local government areas.
According to the NCDC, the majority of confirmed infections are concentrated in five states Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo which account for 85 per cent of all cases reported so far this year.
The agency also noted that young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 are the most affected demographic, with a near-equal male-to-female infection ratio.
Despite the rising death toll, health authorities reported no new infections among healthcare workers during the week under review, suggesting some improvement in infection prevention measures within health facilities.
In response to the outbreak, the NCDC said it has activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate national response efforts. It added that targeted interventions, including infection prevention and control strategies, active case search, contact tracing, and distribution of protective equipment, are ongoing in high-burden states.
The agency urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with rodents, and seek prompt medical care when symptoms such as fever, headache, and bleeding occur.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease endemic in Nigeria, with seasonal spikes typically recorded during the dry season.
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