The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 190 deaths from Lassa fever in 2026, with the disease’s fatality rate rising above figures recorded during the same period last year.

In its latest Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 17, covering 20 to 26 April 2026, the agency said the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) stood at 25.2 per cent, compared to 19.1 per cent recorded within the same period in 2025.
The report indicated that although new confirmed infections declined during the reporting week, concerns remain over late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, and infections among healthcare workers.
The NCDC confirmed cases dropped from 29 recorded in Epidemiological Week 16 to nine cases in Week 17.
*The new infections were reported in Ondo and Bauchi states.The agency said 23 states have recorded at least one confirmed case this year across 105 local government areas.
They added that 84 per cent of all confirmed cases were reported from five states—Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo.
*The predominant age group affected is 21–30 years.The NCDC said it continued nationwide response activities in collaboration with state governments and development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), UNICEF, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), and ALIMA.
As part of containment efforts, the agency said it conducted capacity-building training for 62 infection prevention and control (IPC) focal persons across Lassa fever treatment facilities in Ebonyi and Ondo states.