Nigeria records 170 lassa fever deaths despite drop in weekly cases – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a slight decline in newly confirmed Lassa fever cases across the country.

In its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 14, covering March 30 to April 5, 2026, the agency disclosed that confirmed cases dropped from 26 in Week 13 to 22 in Week 14.

The latest infections were recorded in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Ebonyi, and Kogi states.

Despite the decrease in new cases, the agency said the cumulative death toll has risen to 170, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 24.8 percent.

This represents an increase compared to the 18.8 percent CFR recorded during the same period in 2025, raising concerns about the severity of the outbreak this year.

According to the report, a total of 22 states have recorded at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever in 2026, spanning 94 Local Government Areas.

The NCDC noted that the majority of infections remain concentrated in a few states, with 84 percent of confirmed cases reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue.

Bauchi accounts for 27 percent of the cases, followed by Ondo (22 percent), Taraba (18 percent), Edo (nine percent), and Benue (eight percent). The remaining 16 percent were recorded across 17 other states.

The agency further revealed that young adults are the most affected demographic, with the highest number of cases occurring among individuals aged 21 to 30 years. Overall, confirmed cases range from ages one to 90, with a median age of 30 years.

In terms of gender distribution, the male-to-female ratio stands at 1 to 0.9, indicating a slightly higher infection rate among males.

The report also showed that while suspected cases have declined, confirmed cases are higher compared to the same period in 2025. Additionally, one healthcare worker was infected during the week under review, underscoring the ongoing risks faced by frontline medical personnel.

To strengthen response efforts, the NCDC said the National Lassa Fever multi-partner and multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate interventions nationwide.

The agency urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures, including maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding contact with rodents, storing food safely, and seeking prompt medical attention if symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, or bleeding occur.