Nigeria recorded 18 new confirmed cases of Lassa fever in epidemiological week 35, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in 2026 to 1,074, with 258 deaths reported across 24 states.

The latest Lassa Fever Situation Report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), covering August 24 to 30, 2026, showed that the new cases were reported in Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states.

The cumulative case fatality rate (CFR) has risen to 24 per cent, higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, when 162 deaths were reported.

The NCDC said confirmed cases declined from 21 in epidemiological week 34 to 18 in week 35.The agency reported that 7,785 suspected cases of Lassa fever had been recorded so far in 2026, compared with 7,375 during the same period last year.

Five states accounted for 86 per cent of all confirmed cases, with Ondo recording the highest proportion at 34 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 24 per cent, Taraba 12 per cent, Edo 10 per cent and Benue six per cent.

According to the NCDC, people aged between 21 and 30 years constitute the predominant age group affected by the disease. The ages of confirmed cases ranged from one to 93 years, with a median age of 30.

The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases was 1:0.9.No new healthcare worker infection was recorded during week 35, although 54 healthcare workers have been affected by Lassa fever cumulatively this year.

The NCDC said 13 patients were being managed at treatment centres during the reporting week, bringing the total number of patients managed at treatment centres in 2026 to 816.

NCDC Identifies Factors Behind High Lassa Fever Fatality RateThe NCDC attributed the high case fatality rate to late presentation of patients, poor health-seeking behaviour and the high cost of treatment and clinical management.

The agency also identified poor environmental sanitation, inadequate awareness in high-burden communities and infections among healthcare workers as major challenges to the response.

The NCDC said it had continued to strengthen surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, contact tracing and community engagement in affected states.

It disclosed that National Rapid Response Teams had been deployed to seven high-burden states, while personal protective equipment and other infection prevention commodities had 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 (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The plan is aimed at reducing infections among frontline healthcare workers in states affected by Lassa fever.The NCDC urged state governments to sustain community engagement throughout the year and strengthen efforts to prevent, detect and respond promptly to Lassa fever cases.

It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for the disease, ensure timely referral and treatment, and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures.

The agency called on states and partners to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to Lassa fever outbreaks, while urging communities to improve environmental sanitation and awareness, particularly in high-burden areas.