According to the latest situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 191 people have died from the disease since the beginning of 2026, pushing the national case fatality rate to 24.6 per cent.
The figure marks a sharp increase compared to the 19.2 per cent fatality rate recorded during the same period in 2025, raising fresh concerns among public health officials about the country’s ability to contain the viral disease.
The report, which covered Epidemiological Week 18 between April 27 and May 3, revealed that confirmed infections rose from nine cases in the previous week to 22 new cases. The latest infections were reported in Ondo, Edo, and Plateau states.
Five States Account for Majority of Cases
The NCDC disclosed that confirmed Lassa fever infections have now spread across 23 states and 106 local government areas nationwide.
However, the agency noted that the outbreak remains heavily concentrated in five states — Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo — which collectively account for 84 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded this year.
Health authorities also observed that young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 remain the demographic most affected by the disease.
The report further highlighted the continued vulnerability of medical personnel, revealing that another healthcare worker contracted the virus during the reporting period.
Delayed Treatment Driving Fatalities
Public health experts say one of the major reasons behind the rising death toll is the late presentation of infected individuals at healthcare facilities.
The NCDC warned that many patients continue to seek medical help only after symptoms become severe, significantly reducing survival chances.
The agency also linked the worsening situation to poor awareness in high-risk communities, weak sanitation practices, and the rising cost of treatment and clinical management.
“These factors continue to hinder early diagnosis and timely medical intervention,” the agency stated.
Emergency Measures Expanded in Affected States
In response to the growing outbreak, the NCDC said it has intensified surveillance operations, community sensitisation campaigns, and infection prevention measures across several states.
With support from the World Health Organization, the agency trained 62 infection prevention and control focal persons in designated Lassa fever treatment facilities in Ebonyi and Ondo states.
Incident Management Systems have also been activated in Oyo, Benue, Plateau, Kebbi, Kano, and Gombe states to strengthen emergency coordination and response efforts.
In Ondo and Edo, health officials carried out awareness campaigns involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, farmers, and market women in a bid to improve community-level prevention and early reporting.
The NCDC additionally unveiled a 30-day healthcare worker protection plan supported by the WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce infections among frontline medical staff.
Other response efforts include contact tracing, deployment of National Rapid Response Teams to seven high-burden states, laboratory testing, integrated case management training in Taraba State, and the distribution of personal protective equipment to health facilities.
Calls for Stronger Prevention and Awareness
The agency urged state governments to intensify public education campaigns on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year rather than only during outbreaks.
Healthcare workers were also advised to maintain a high level of suspicion when handling suspected cases, ensure prompt referrals, and strictly follow infection prevention and control guidelines.
The NCDC further appealed to development partners and state authorities to strengthen preparedness systems capable of improving early detection and reducing preventable deaths.
Understanding Lassa Fever
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus. Humans typically contract the infection through contact with food, surfaces, or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats.
The disease can also spread through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected persons.
Early symptoms often include fever, weakness, headache, and general body pain. In severe cases, patients may develop bleeding complications, breathing difficulties, swelling, and organ failure.
Medical experts stress that early diagnosis and prompt treatment — particularly with the antiviral drug Ribavirin — remain critical to improving survival rates.