Lassa fever deaths hit 263 as fatality rate rises

• 1,115 cases confirmed across 24 states

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Nigeria’s Lassa fever death toll has risen to 263, with the proportion of confirmed patients dying from the disease reaching 23.6 per cent, compared with 18.5 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in its situation report for epidemiological week 38, covering September 14–20, 2026, which put cumulative confirmed cases at 1,115 across 24 states and 119 Local Government Areas.

The latest tally represents an additional four deaths and 11 confirmed cases compared with the preceding week, when the agency reported 259 deaths and 1,104 confirmed infections.

Although new confirmed cases declined from 17 in week 37 to 11 in week 38, the NCDC said cumulative suspected and confirmed infections remained higher than those recorded during the corresponding period last year.

The 11 new confirmed cases were reported in Ondo, Edo and Taraba states.

Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue—accounted for 87 per cent of confirmed infections recorded so far this year, highlighting the concentration of cases in a few states.

Ondo accounted for the largest share, at 35 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 23 per cent, Taraba with 12 per cent, Edo with 11 per cent and Benue with six per cent. Other affected states accounted for the remaining 13 per cent.

The report showed that people aged 21 to 30 were the most affected age group. However, confirmed patients ranged from one to 93 years old, with a median age of 30.

The male-to-female ratio among confirmed patients was 1:0.9.

No new infection was recorded among healthcare workers during the reporting week.

The NCDC said the National Lassa Fever Multisectoral Multi-partner Technical Working Group continued to support the coordination of response activities at national, state and local government levels.