The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 204 deaths from Lassa fever and 793 laboratory-confirmed cases across Nigeria as of Epidemiological Week 19, raising fresh concerns over the worsening spread of the disease.
The update was contained in the agency’s latest Lassa Fever Situation Report, covering May 4 to May 10, 2026.
The NCDC stated that 17 new confirmed cases were recorded during the week, a decline from the 22 cases reported the previous week. These new infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, and Nasarawa states.
According to the report, Nigeria has recorded 5,034 suspected cases so far in 2026, with 793 confirmed and five classified as probable. Cumulatively, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) now stands at 25.7%, which is higher than the 19.4% recorded within the same period in 2025.
The agency noted that 23 states and 108 Local Government Areas have recorded at least one confirmed case this year. It added that 84% of the confirmed cases were concentrated in five states: Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue. Bauchi and Ondo each accounted for 26%, followed by Taraba at 16%, Edo at 9%, and Benue at 7%.
The most affected age group remains individuals between 21 and 30 years old, with patient ages ranging from 1 to 90 years and a median age of 30 years. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.9.
The NCDC also confirmed that one healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week, highlighting the continued risks faced by frontline medical staff.
The agency stated that the National Lassa Fever Incident Management System remains activated to coordinate response efforts nationwide. These response activities include healthcare worker training, contact tracing, active case searches, public sensitization, the deployment of rapid response teams, and the distribution of protective equipment.
However, the NCDC warned that the late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behavior, weak sanitation practices, and low awareness continue to hinder containment efforts.