NCDC reports 214 deaths from Lassa fever.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that Nigeria has recorded a total of 214 deaths from Lassa Fever as of Week 23 in 2026.

In its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23 (1 – 7 June 2026), the NCDC stated that the country documented 855 confirmed cases and 214 deaths, yielding a case‑fatality rate of 25.0 percent—higher than the 18.9 percent observed during the same period in 2025.

The report noted that 23 states had at least one confirmed case, spanning 109 local government areas.

It added that 84 percent of confirmed cases came from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo states, with the most affected age group being 21‑30 years.

According to the NCDC, no healthcare workers were affected during Week 23.

The report showed increases in both suspected and confirmed cases compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

The centre highlighted ongoing collaboration with partners to implement a range of response activities, including infection prevention and control training, active case searches, contact tracing, community sensitisation campaigns, and laboratory testing.

“Other interventions include the activation of Incident Management Systems in several states, distribution of personal protective equipment, support for treatment centres, and capacity‑building programmes for healthcare workers in endemic areas,” the NCDC said.

“The agency, with support from partners such as the World Health Organisation, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières and other stakeholders, has also intensified risk communication and community engagement activities to improve awareness and promote early reporting of symptoms.”

The NCDC identified several challenges that hinder effective disease control, including late presentation of cases, poor health‑seeking behaviour driven by the high cost of treatment, inadequate environmental sanitation, low public awareness in affected communities, and infections among healthcare workers.

The NCDC urged state governments to strengthen year‑round community engagement and public education on Lassa Fever prevention.

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