NCDC Reports 167 Deaths From Lassa Fever In Q1

According to the agency’s Epidemiological Week 13 report, made available in Abuja, a total of 167 deaths have been recorded so far in 2026, with the case fatality rate rising to 25.2 percent—significantly higher than the 18.5 percent reported within the same period in 2025.

The report noted that 26 new confirmed cases were identified in Week 13, a drop from 51 cases recorded in the preceding week. These cases were spread across seven states, including Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Benue, and Kaduna.

Despite the weekly decline in confirmed infections, the NCDC warned that the overall disease burden remains high, with 663 confirmed cases out of 3,831 suspected cases reported across 22 states and 93 local government areas since the beginning of the year.

The agency further revealed that Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue states account for about 85 percent of all confirmed cases, while young adults aged 21 to 30 remain the most affected demographic group, with a median age of 30 years.

Health authorities attributed the persistently high fatality rate to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, high cost of treatment, inadequate environmental sanitation, and low awareness in affected communities.

However, the report confirmed that no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting period, indicating some progress in infection control within clinical settings.

In response to the outbreak, the NCDC stated that it has activated a multi-partner Incident Management System to strengthen coordination of national response efforts. It added that collaboration with international and local partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has intensified surveillance, contact tracing, and public sensitization campaigns.

The agency also noted that targeted interventions such as healthcare worker protection plans and improved infection prevention and control measures are being implemented in high-burden states.

The NCDC urged state governments to sustain year-round community engagement while encouraging healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever to ensure early detection and timely treatment.

Public health experts have warned that the rising fatality rate, despite ongoing interventions, highlights persistent gaps in early diagnosis and access to quality healthcare services.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted mainly through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, with outbreaks typically peaking during the dry season in Nigeria.