The variety of deaths from Lassa fever in Nigeria has risen to 268 in 2026, with the nation recording 1,138 confirmed instances throughout 24 states and 119 Local Government Areas as of epidemiological week 40, based on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC, in its newest state of affairs report overlaying September 28 to October 4, 2026, mentioned the case fatality rate had elevated to 23.6 per cent, in contrast with 18.6 per cent recorded in the course of the corresponding interval in 2025.
The report confirmed that Nigeria recorded 8,414 suspected instances, 1,138 confirmed instances and 6 possible instances between epidemiological weeks one and 40 of 2026, in contrast with 8,041 suspected instances, 924 confirmed instances and 7 possible instances throughout the identical interval final 12 months.
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According to the NCDC, three new confirmed instances had been recorded in week 40, representing a decline from the 13 instances reported within the previous week. The new instances had been reported in Bauchi and Benue states, whereas one loss of life was recorded in the course of the week.
The report indicated that 88 per cent of confirmed instances in 2026 had been concentrated in 5 states: Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue.
Ondo accounted for 36 per cent of the confirmed instances, adopted by Bauchi with 23 per cent, Taraba with 12 per cent, Edo with 11 per cent and Benue with six per cent. The remaining 12 per cent had been reported throughout 19 different states.
The predominant age group affected was 21 to 30 years, with instances recorded amongst individuals aged between one and 93 years and a median age of 30. The male-to-female ratio amongst confirmed instances was 1:0.9.
The company additionally reported that 54 healthcare staff had been affected by the illness cumulatively in 2026, though no new healthcare employee an infection was recorded throughout week 40.
It mentioned two sufferers had been managed at remedy centres in the course of the reporting week, bringing the cumulative variety of instances managed at such amenities to 870.
On contact tracing, the NCDC reported that 77 contacts remained underneath follow-up, whereas 2,016 had accomplished follow-up. A complete of 110 symptomatic contacts and 49 optimistic contacts had been recorded cumulatively, whereas three contacts had been misplaced to follow-up.
The company attributed the excessive fatality rate partly to the late presentation of sufferers at well being amenities, poor health-seeking behaviour linked to the excessive value of remedy, insufficient environmental sanitation and low consciousness in high-burden communities.
Healthcare employee infections had been additionally recognized as a seamless problem within the nation’s response to the illness.
To strengthen the response, the NCDC mentioned it had sustained surveillance, laboratory testing, case administration coaching and an infection prevention and management actions in collaboration with state governments and growth companions.
It additionally carried out a nationwide after-action overview of the 2026 outbreak, supported medical administration coaching in affected states and developed a 30-day healthcare employee safety plan with the help of the World Health Organisation and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other interventions included the deployment of fast response groups to seven high-burden states, distribution of non-public protecting gear to well being amenities, neighborhood engagement and speak to tracing in affected areas.
The company additional disclosed that it had issued a joint advisory to medical docs and different healthcare staff to strengthen Lassa fever prevention, prognosis and administration.
The NCDC urged state governments to maintain neighborhood engagement all year long to enhance public consciousness and promote preventive practices.
It additionally suggested healthcare staff to keep up a excessive index of suspicion for Lassa fever, guarantee immediate referral and remedy of suspected instances, and adjust to customary an infection prevention and management procedures.
The company referred to as on states and companions to strengthen their capability to stop, detect and reply promptly to outbreaks.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic sickness transmitted primarily by means of contact with meals or home items contaminated by the urine or faeces of contaminated rodents.
Human-to-human transmission also can happen by means of contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or different bodily fluids of an contaminated particular person, notably in healthcare settings with out satisfactory an infection prevention measures.
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