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Nigeria has recorded 1,086 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 259 deaths across 24 states in 2026. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this on Tuesday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological week 36.
The report, which covered August 31 to September 6, showed 12 new confirmed cases during the week, indicating a decline from the 18 cases recorded in epidemiological week 35. The latest cases were reported in Ondo, Edo and Kogi states.
The 259 deaths represent a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 23.9 per cent. However, the rate remains higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
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The NCDC said 24 states had recorded at least one confirmed case across 118 Local Government Areas, while five states accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded in 2026.
People aged between 21 and 30 years remained the most affected age group. Meanwhile, no new healthcare worker infection was recorded during epidemiological week 36.
The latest figures followed the week 35 report, which recorded 18 new cases. At the end of week 35, Nigeria had recorded 1,074 confirmed cases and 258 deaths.
The CFR stood at 24.0 per cent.
The NCDC said the CFR was also higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. The agency said 24 states and 118 LGAs had reported confirmed cases by the end of week 35.
Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo accounted for 86 per cent of confirmed cases at that stage. The increase from 1,074 to 1,086 cases reflects the 12 new infections recorded in week 36, as deaths also rose from 258 to 259.
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The NCDC said it would continue surveillance and response activities across affected states, describing Lassa fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness that remains endemic in Nigeria.
It said continued surveillance would support early detection and a faster response to new cases.
The NCDC also said the concentration of cases in five states remains a key feature of Nigeria’s 2026 Lassa fever situation and urged continued attention to surveillance and response, especially in states reporting confirmed infections.
