Lassa fever death toll hits 214 as fatality rate rises to 25%

…NCDC flags growing concern over infections, delayed treatment
By Chioma Obinna

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC) on Monday disclosed that the country’s Lassa fever outbreak has claimed 214 lives so far in 2026, with the fatality rate rising to 25 per cent.

The report for Epidemiological Week 23, covering June 1 to 7, showed that 13 new confirmed cases and four fresh deaths were recorded across Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states, keeping the weekly infection figure at the same level as the previous week but with a higher death toll.

Cumulatively, the NCDC said Nigeria has recorded 855 confirmed cases from 5,652 suspected infections across 23 states and 109 local government areas, reflecting a steady rise in the outbreak’s spread.

The agency noted that the current fatality rate of 25 per cent is significantly higher than the 18.9 per cent recorded within the same period in 2025, when 143 deaths were reported from 758 confirmed cases.

According to the report, five states; Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, and Benue account for 84 per cent of all confirmed cases this year, with Ondo leading at 28 per cent, followed by Bauchi at 25 per cent and Taraba at 15 per cent.

The NCDC said the disease continues to affect mostly young adults between 21 and 30 years, with cases recorded among patients aged between one and 93 years.

It attributed the rising fatality rate to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour and the high cost of treatment, warning that these factors remain major obstacles in reducing deaths.

“The number of suspected and confirmed cases has increased compared to the same period in 2025, while late presentation continues to contribute to the higher fatality rate,” the agency said.

The report also highlighted poor environmental sanitation and low awareness in some high-burden communities as contributing factors fueling transmission.

Despite the challenges, the NCDC noted that no healthcare worker was infected in the reporting week, while national and state-level response measures remain active, including case management, surveillance, community engagement and training of frontline health workers.

The agency urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with rodents and seek immediate medical attention once symptoms such as fever, weakness, sore throat or unexplained bleeding appear.