The variety of deaths from Lassa fever in Nigeria has risen to 268 in 2026, with the nation recording 1,138 confirmed circumstances throughout 24 states and 119 Local Government Areas as of epidemiological week 40, in line with 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 through the corresponding interval in 2025.
The report confirmed that Nigeria recorded 8,414 suspected circumstances, 1,138 confirmed circumstances and 6 possible circumstances between epidemiological weeks one and 40 of 2026, in contrast with 8,041 suspected circumstances, 924 confirmed circumstances and 7 possible circumstances throughout the identical interval final 12 months.
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According to the NCDC, three new confirmed circumstances had been recorded in week 40, representing a decline from the 13 circumstances reported within the previous week. The new circumstances had been reported in Bauchi and Benue states, whereas one loss of life was recorded through the week.
The report indicated that 88 per cent of confirmed circumstances in 2026 had been concentrated in 5 states: Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue.
Ondo accounted for 36 per cent of the confirmed circumstances, 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 circumstances recorded amongst folks aged between one and 93 years and a median age of 30. The male-to-female ratio amongst confirmed circumstances 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 through the reporting week, bringing the cumulative variety of circumstances managed at such services to 870.
On contact tracing, the NCDC reported that 77 contacts remained beneath 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 services, 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 unbroken 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 performed a nationwide after-action evaluation of the 2026 outbreak, supported scientific administration coaching in affected states and developed a 30-day healthcare employee safety plan with the assist 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 private protecting gear to well being services, group engagement and make contact with tracing in affected areas.
The company additional disclosed that it had issued a joint advisory to medical medical doctors and different healthcare staff to strengthen Lassa fever prevention, prognosis and administration.
The NCDC urged state governments to maintain group engagement all year long to enhance public consciousness and promote preventive practices.
It additionally suggested healthcare staff to take care of a excessive index of suspicion for Lassa fever, guarantee immediate referral and remedy of suspected circumstances, and adjust to commonplace an infection prevention and management procedures.
The company referred to as on states and companions to strengthen their capability to forestall, detect and reply promptly to outbreaks.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic sickness transmitted primarily by contact with meals or home items contaminated by the urine or faeces of contaminated rodents.
Human-to-human transmission can even happen by contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or different bodily fluids of an contaminated particular person, significantly in healthcare settings with out ample an infection prevention measures.
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