The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a renewed increase in confirmed Lassa fever cases, with cumulative infections rising to 963 and the death toll reaching 229 as of epidemiological week 28 of 2026.
According to the NCDC’s latest Lassa fever situation report released on Friday, new confirmed cases fell from 31 in week 26 to 14 in week 27 before increasing again to 25 in week 28, indicating that transmission remains active across affected states.
The 25 cases recorded in week 28 were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi and Cross River states, while the cases confirmed in week 27 occurred in Ondo, Edo, Benue, Bauchi and Kogi.
The agency said Nigeria had recorded 963 confirmed cases and 229 deaths by week 28, representing a case fatality rate of 23.8 per cent. The figure was higher than the 18.7 per cent fatality rate recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
In week 27, the country had recorded 936 confirmed cases and 224 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 23.9 per cent, compared with 18.9 per cent during the same period last year.
The report showed that at least one confirmed Lassa fever case had been recorded in 23 states. The disease spread across 113 local government areas in week 27 before increasing to 114 local government areas in week 28.
The majority of confirmed infections remained concentrated in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo states. The five states accounted for 85 per cent of all confirmed cases in week 27 and 86 per cent in week 28.
People between the ages of 21 and 30 remained the most affected group, highlighting the continued impact of the disease on young adults.
The NCDC also reported that no healthcare worker contracted the disease during week 27, while one healthcare worker was infected in week 28.
The agency urged health authorities, medical professionals and members of the public to maintain heightened surveillance, ensure early detection of suspected cases and promptly commence treatment.
It also called for strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities, alongside sustained public awareness campaigns to reduce transmission and prevent further deaths.
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