Lassa fever kills 17 Nigerians in eight states within three weeks

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says no fewer than 17 people have died from Lassa fever across eight states in the first three weeks of 2026.

The agency disclosed this in its weekly epidemiological report for week three, released on Thursday.

The NCDC said Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Benue and Nasarawa states recorded new confirmed cases during the period.

It said Bauchi accounted for 46 percent of the total infections reported nationwide.

According to the report, Nigeria recorded 93 confirmed Lassa fever cases from the affected states.

The agency said the case fatality rate currently stands at 18.1 percent, slightly lower than the 18.2 percent recorded during the same period in 2025.

The NCDC said four health workers were infected in week three, underscoring the occupational risks associated with the outbreak.

It added that 89 percent of confirmed cases were reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo states, while the remaining 11 percent came from five other states.

The agency said the most affected age group was 21 to 30 years, with a median age of 27.5 years.

It added that the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases was 1:0.6.

The NCDC said the national Lassa fever multi-partner incident management system had been activated to support response activities.

It said the response includes treatment of confirmed cases, distribution of medical countermeasures such as Ribavirin, and risk communication at the community level.

The agency identified late presentation at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour and environmental sanitation challenges as key issues affecting the response.

It urged states to intensify community engagement and advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for early detection and prompt treatment.

The NCDC also advised Nigerians to observe good hygiene practices and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in Nigeria and parts of West Africa.

The disease is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats.

Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings without adequate infection prevention and control measures.

The disease often peaks during the dry season, between December and April, when contact between humans and rodents increases.