An ecologist extracts a sample of blood from a Mastomys Natalensis rodent in the village of Jormu in southeastern Sierra Leone February 8, 2011. Lassa fever, named after the Nigerian town where it was first identified in 1969, is among a U.S. list of "category A" diseases -- deemed to have the potential for major public health impact -- alongside anthrax and botulism. The disease is carried by the Mastomys Natalensis rodent, found across sub-Saharan Africa and often eaten as a source of protein. It infects an estimated 300,000-500,000 people each year, and kills about 5,000. Picture taken February 8, 2011. To match Reuters-Feature BIOTERROR-AFRICA/ REUTERS/Simon Akam (SIERRA LEONE - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY ANIMALS) - GM1E72F07HC01
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a higher fatality rate (CFR) for Lassa fever in 2026.
This comes in spite of a decline in the total number of confirmed cases compared to the same period in 2025.
According to its Epidemiological Week 7 Situation Report released on Tuesday in Abuja, 75 deaths were recorded from 326 confirmed Lassa fever cases between Weeks 1 and 7 of 2026.
This represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of 23.0 per cent.
“This is higher than the 19.7 per cent CFR recorded within the same period in 2025, when 89 deaths were reported from 451 confirmed cases, the NCDC said.
The agency noted that while suspected and confirmed cases were lower in 2026, mortality appeared to be increasing proportionately.
“In week 7 alone, 82 new confirmed cases were recorded from 74 in week 6.
“Confirmed cases were reported across 14 states, including Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kano, Ebonyi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Benue.
“Cumulatively, 16 states across 58 Local Government Areas have recorded at least one confirmed case so far in 2026,” the NCDC added.
The report indicated that 84 per cent of all confirmed cases were concentrated in four states: Bauchi (33 per cent), Ondo (22 per cent), Taraba (19 per cent), and Edo (10 per cent).
It said the predominant age group affected was 21–30 years, with cases ranging from one to 90 years and a median age of 30.
“The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases stands at 1:0.8.
“Five healthcare workers were infected during the reporting week, raising concerns about infection prevention and control measures in health facilities,” the report revealed.
The agency attributed the rising fatality rate to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour due to high treatment costs, and inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden communities.
“Increasing infections among healthcare workers remain an ongoing challenge,” the NCDC said, stressing the need for strict adherence to infection prevention and control protocols in hospitals and treatment centres.
In response, the NCDC had activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate national and sub-national response efforts.
“Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to seven high-burden states, while medical countermeasures, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Ribavirin, have been distributed to affected states and treatment centres.
“The agency is also strengthening surveillance, laboratory testing, community engagement, and behavioural change interventions while advocating for dedicated budget lines to support Lassa fever prevention and control,” it said.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease primarily transmitted through exposure to food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, posing serious health risks in endemic communities.
