A report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said that Lassa fever has spread to five states in the country, with 11 deaths recorded within the first two epidemiological weeks of 2026.
The report stated that new confirmed cases rose from 21 in epidemiological week one to 33 in week two, with infections reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Ogun states.
It said the case fatality rate stood at 20.4 per cent, higher than the 15.4 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
According to the report, five states across 16 local government areas have recorded at least one confirmed case so far in 2026.
The NCDC disclosed that 98 per cent of confirmed cases came from four states, with Bauchi accounting for 46 per cent, Ondo 30 per cent, Edo 13 per cent and Taraba nine per cent, while the remaining cases were reported from one other state.
It added that young adults aged 21 to 30 years were the most affected, noting that patients’ ages ranged from one to 74 years, with a median age of 23.4 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1:0.7.
The report noted that although confirmed cases increased in week two, the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases declined compared to the same period in 2025.
It added that 31 patients were managed at treatment centres during the reporting week, while no healthcare worker was affected.
The NCDC said the national multi-partner, multi-sectoral Lassa fever Technical Working Group continues to support coordination of response activities at all levels to curb the spread of the disease.
