Nigeria has recorded 18 new confirmed cases of Lassa fever in week 35, bringing total confirmed cases in 2026 to 1,074 with 258 deaths across 24 states.
The figures are contained in the latest Situation Report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, for August 24 to 30, 2026.
The 18 new cases were reported in Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states. New cases dropped from 21 in week 34 to 18 in week 35.
The cumulative case fatality rate has risen to 24 percent, higher than 18.6 percent recorded in the same period in 2025 when 162 deaths were reported.
“Cumulatively, 258 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 24.0%, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2025 (18.6%),” the agency said.
So far this year, 7,785 suspected cases have been recorded compared to 7,375 in the same period last year. 86 percent of all confirmed cases came from five states – Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue.
Ondo accounted for 34 percent, Bauchi 24 percent, Taraba 12 percent, Edo 10 percent and Benue six percent.
The most affected age group is 21 to 30 years, with cases ranging from one to 93 years and a median age of 30. The male to female ratio is 1 to 0.9.
No new healthcare worker infection was recorded in week 35, though 54 health workers have been affected cumulatively this year.
13 patients were being managed at treatment centres during the week, bringing total patients managed at centres so far to 816.
The NCDC linked the high fatality rate to late presentation, poor health-seeking behaviour and high cost of treatment, as well as poor environmental sanitation, poor awareness in high-burden communities and infection among health workers.
It said it has continued to strengthen surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, contact tracing and community engagement in affected states.
National Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to seven high-burden states, while personal protective equipment and other infection prevention materials have been distributed to health facilities.
The agency also developed a 30-day Healthcare Worker Protection Plan for Lassa fever with support from the World Health Organisation and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce infections among frontline workers.
The NCDC urged states to sustain community engagement and strengthen prevention, detection and prompt response, and advised health workers to maintain high suspicion for Lassa fever, ensure early referral and treatment, and strictly follow infection prevention measures.
“Healthcare workers should continue to maintain high suspicion for Lassa fever and initiate timely referral and treatment, and adhere to standard infection prevention and control procedures,” it said.
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