Lassa fever deaths rise to 167 in Nigeria

By Ejire Folakunmi

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Lassa fever fatalities have risen sharply in 2026, despite a decline in new confirmed cases in the latest reporting week.

The NCDC, in its Epidemiological Week 13 report made available on Thursday in Abuja, disclosed that 167 deaths have been recorded so far this year. The agency stated the case fatality rate (CFR) is 25.2%, significantly higher than the 18.5% recorded during the same period in 2025.

According to the report, 26 new confirmed cases were recorded in Week 13, a decrease from 51 cases reported in the previous week. These cases were reported across seven states: Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Benue, and Kaduna. However, the agency noted that the overall burden remains high, with a total of 663 confirmed cases out of 3,831 suspected cases reported across 22 states and 93 Local Government Areas in 2026.

The NCDC identified Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue as the most affected states, accounting for 85% of all confirmed cases. Young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 remain the most affected group, with a median age of 30 years.

The report highlighted persistent challenges driving the high fatality rate, including late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behavior, and the high cost of treatment. Other factors include poor environmental sanitation and low awareness levels in high-burden communities. Despite these concerns, no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting week.

In response to the outbreak, the NCDC has activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate national efforts. Collaborating with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, and MSF, the agency has intensified surveillance, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns. Targeted interventions, including healthcare worker protection plans, are being implemented in high-burden states.

The agency urged state governments to strengthen year-round community engagement and called on healthcare workers to ensure early detection and treatment. Experts believe the rising fatality rate underscores the urgent need to address systemic gaps in diagnosis and access to care.