Lassa fever has claimed 214 lives in Nigeria, with the Case Fatality Rate rising to 25.0 percent, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
This is contained in the NCDC Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23 (June 1–7, 2026).
The figure marks a sharp increase from 18.9 percent recorded during the same period in 2025. The agency also reported an increase in both suspected and confirmed cases compared to last year.
New confirmed cases remained steady in Week 23, matching the number recorded in Week 22. Cases were reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, and Ebonyi States. No new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the week.
The outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas since January 2026.
Five states account for 84 percent of all confirmed cases: Ondo (28%), Bauchi (25%), Taraba (15%), Edo (10%), and Benue (6%). The remaining 16 percent are distributed across 18 other states with confirmed infections.
Young adults remain the most affected group. The predominant age range is 21–30 years, with cases spanning from one to 93 years and a median age of 30 years.
The NCDC stated that the National Lassa Fever Multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains active to coordinate response efforts. The system continues to support activities at the federal, state, and local government levels.
No new healthcare worker infections were reported in Week 23. However, the higher case fatality rate and wider geographic spread indicate ongoing transmission pressure.
Surveillance and case management efforts are ongoing across all 23 affected states.
— NAN
Discover more from Rootedscope Media
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
