By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/p>\n
Five states accounted for approximately 87 per cent of the 1,115 confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded in Nigeria between January and September 20, 2026, as deaths from the disease rose to 263.<\/p>\n
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Ondo State recorded the highest number of infections, with 393 confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 260, Taraba with 133, Edo with 122 and Benue with 61.<\/p>\n
The figures were contained in the agency’s latest Lassa Fever Situation Report, covering September 14 to 20, 2026.<\/p>\n
The report stated that 263 deaths had been recorded during the period, representing a case fatality rate of 23.6 per cent, higher than the 18.5 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.<\/p>\n
The NCDC reported 8,218 suspected cases during the first 38 epidemiological weeks of 2026, compared with 7,792 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.<\/p>\n
Confirmed infections were reported in 119 local government areas across 24 states.<\/p>\n
During the week under review, 11 new confirmed cases and four deaths were recorded, while 120 suspected cases were reported. The number of confirmed infections declined from 17 in the preceding week.<\/p>\n
The report identified people aged between 21 and 30 as the most affected age group, although confirmed cases were recorded among individuals aged between one and 93 years.<\/p>\n
It also disclosed that 54 healthcare workers had contracted the disease cumulatively in 2026, although no new infection among healthcare workers was recorded during the reporting week.<\/p>\n
The agency attributed the high fatality rate partly to the late presentation of patients at health facilities, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n
Other challenges identified included the high cost of treatment and clinical management, poor environmental sanitation, low public awareness in highly affected communities and infections among healthcare workers.<\/p>\n
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings where infection prevention and control measures are inadequate.<\/p>\n
The disease is endemic in Nigeria, with cases typically reported throughout the year, although infections often increase during the dry season.<\/p>\n
The NCDC urged state governments to sustain community engagement and public awareness campaigns on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year.<\/p>\n
It also called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for the disease, ensure the prompt referral and treatment of suspected cases, and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control procedures.<\/p>\n
The agency stressed the importance of early detection and timely treatment in improving patient outcomes, while urging communities to maintain proper sanitation, store food safely and take measures to prevent rodents from entering homes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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