The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recorded 318 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 70 related deaths nationwide since the start of 2026.
Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, revealed this during a press briefing on Friday. He noted that 1,469 suspected cases have been reported so far, with a case fatality rate of 22 per cent.
According to him, five states — Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Ebonyi — account for 91 per cent of the confirmed infections, while 10 local government areas represent 68 per cent of the total cases.
To curb the spread, the NCDC has deployed its National Rapid Response Team to several affected states, including Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Benue, and Jigawa. The agency is also collaborating with state authorities to enhance disease surveillance, improve case management, and intensify community engagement efforts.
Dr Idris stressed that protecting healthcare workers remains a major priority, disclosing that 15 health workers have contracted the virus this year. He attributed some infections to low risk awareness and weak infection prevention measures in certain health facilities.
The NCDC identified key challenges such as poor contact tracing, delays in seeking medical care, and insufficient funding for preventive measures at the state level, all of which may contribute to higher infection and mortality rates.
He urged state governments to strengthen active case finding, improve risk communication at the community level, and strictly enforce infection prevention and control protocols.
Dr Idris also cautioned against the spread of misinformation, referencing a recent false alarm about an outbreak at the Kwara State NYSC camp, which he said could undermine response efforts.
He advised Nigerians to maintain proper environmental sanitation, store food appropriately, prevent rodent infestations, and seek early medical care if symptoms arise.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus, an arenavirus transmitted primarily by the Mastomys rat. The disease is endemic in Nigeria and other West African countries, with humans typically infected through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rodents.
