Lassa fever spreads across 119 LGAs as death toll hit 268 – Daily Trust

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recorded 1,138 confirmed instances of Lassa fever and 268 deaths across 24 states, with the case fatality fee rising to 23.6 per cent.

The figures had been contained within the company’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological weeks 39 and 40, masking September 21 to October 4, 2026.

According to the report, the cumulative case fatality fee of 23.6 per cent was larger than the 18.6 per cent recorded throughout the corresponding interval in 2025, indicating a rise within the proportion of confirmed instances leading to deaths.

The NCDC disclosed that the illness had unfold across 119 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 24 states, with Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo accounting for 88 per cent of all confirmed instances recorded throughout the reporting interval.

It additionally recognized folks aged between 21 and 30 years as essentially the most affected age group.

However, the company reported no new Lassa fever infections amongst healthcare staff throughout the two epidemiological weeks below overview.

A breakdown of the figures confirmed that Nigeria recorded three new confirmed instances in week 40, masking September 28 to October 4, in contrast with 13 instances reported in week 39.

The three new infections had been recorded in Bauchi and Benue states, bringing the cumulative variety of confirmed instances to 1,138 and deaths to 268 by the top of week 40.

For week 39, which coated September 21 to September 27, the NCDC recorded 13 new confirmed instances, a rise from the 11 instances reported in week 38.

The new infections throughout week 39 had been reported in Ondo State, bringing the cumulative variety of confirmed instances to 1,134 and deaths to 267.

The case fatality fee for week 39 stood at 23.6 per cent, in contrast with 18.5 per cent recorded throughout the corresponding interval in 2025.

The NCDC’s state of affairs report offers periodic updates on confirmed instances, fatalities, affected states and LGAs, as properly as the distribution of infections across totally different age teams.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic sickness primarily transmitted to people by means of contact with meals or home goods contaminated by the urine or faeces of contaminated rodents.

The illness may unfold from individual to individual by means of contact with the bodily fluids of an contaminated particular person, notably in healthcare settings the place acceptable an infection prevention and management measures should not applied.

The NCDC suggested members of the general public to keep up correct environmental sanitation, retailer meals in rodent-proof containers and keep away from contact with rats to minimise the danger of an infection.

The company additionally emphasised the significance of preventive measures to restrict publicity to contaminated rodents and scale back the unfold of the illness.