The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 318 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 70 related deaths nationwide since the start of 2026.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Director General and Chief Executive Officer Jide Idris said 1,469 suspected cases have been recorded, resulting in a case fatality rate of 22 per cent.
He noted that five states — Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Bauchi and Ebonyi — account for 91 per cent of confirmed infections, while 10 local government areas represent 68 per cent of cases.
To curb the outbreak, the agency has deployed its National Rapid Response Team to eight affected states — Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Benue, Jigawa and Plateau — while working with state governments to strengthen surveillance, treatment, and community engagement.
“Protecting healthcare workers is a key priority,” Idris said, revealing that 15 health workers have been infected so far this year. He attributed this partly to low risk awareness and weak infection control practices in some facilities.
The NCDC also identified major challenges, including inadequate contact tracing, delays in seeking medical care, and insufficient state funding for prevention programmes. Idris urged state authorities to intensify active case searches, improve public risk communication, and enforce infection prevention measures.
He further cautioned against misinformation, citing a recent false outbreak report at the Kwara State NYSC camp that could undermine containment efforts.
The NCDC advised Nigerians to maintain proper environmental hygiene, store food safely, control rodents, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms appear.
Understanding Lassa fever transmission
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus. It is primarily transmitted by the Mastomys rat — a common African rodent — and is endemic in Nigeria and parts of West Africa.
Humans typically become infected through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rodents.
