Death toll from Lassa fever hits 214

Monday, June 22, 2026 - Lassa fever has killed 214 people in Nigeria this year, with health authorities reporting a sharp increase in the disease's fatality rate compared to the same period in 2025.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the case fatality rate has risen to 25 per cent, up from 18.9 per cent recorded during the corresponding period last year.

In its Week 23 Lassa Fever Situation Report covering June 1 to June 7, 2026, the NCDC said the number of new confirmed cases remained unchanged from the previous week, with infections reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states. The agency noted that the outbreak has spread across 23 states and 109 local government areas since January, with both suspected and confirmed cases exceeding figures recorded during the same period in 2025.

Five states account for the majority of confirmed infections nationwide. Ondo State leads with 28 per cent of cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba with 15 per cent, Edo with 10 per cent and Benue with six per cent. The remaining cases are distributed across 18 other states.

The NCDC said young adults remain the most affected age group, with the highest number of infections recorded among people aged between 21 and 30 years. Cases have been reported among individuals ranging in age from one to 93 years, with a median age of 30.

Despite the continued spread of the disease, the agency reported that no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting week. To coordinate containment efforts, the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System remains active, supporting response operations at federal, state and local government levels.

The NCDC warned that the increasing fatality rate and the continued expansion of the outbreak across multiple states indicate ongoing transmission of the virus. It said surveillance, case management and response activities are continuing in all affected states as authorities work to curb the spread of the disease