Lassa Fever Fatality Rate Hits 25% as Death Toll Reaches 214 in Nigeria

Nigeria is facing a worsening Lassa fever crisis. The Lassa fever fatality rate has climbed sharply to 25 percent, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency confirmed that 214 people have now died from the disease in 2026. That number represents a dramatic jump from the 18.9 percent fatality rate recorded during the same period last year.

The data comes from the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 23, covering June 1 to June 7, 2026. Beyond the rising death toll, the report also shows that both suspected and confirmed cases have increased compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

Lassa Fever Fatality Rate Rises as Outbreak Spreads Wider

The outbreak has now reached 23 states and 109 Local Government Areas since January 2026. That is a wide and concerning geographical spread. Confirmed cases continue to emerge in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, and Ebonyi states. Notably, no new healthcare worker infections were recorded during Week 23, which the NCDC noted as a positive sign.

However, five states bear the heaviest burden of confirmed cases. Ondo leads with 28 percent of all confirmed infections. Bauchi follows closely with 25 percent, while Taraba accounts for 15 percent. Edo contributes 10 percent, and Benue accounts for six percent. Together, these five states represent 84 percent of the national caseload. The remaining 16 percent of cases are distributed across 18 other states with confirmed infections.

Young adults are the most affected demographic. The NCDC reported that people aged 21 to 30 form the largest group of confirmed cases. Overall, patients range from one year old to 93 years. The median age of confirmed patients stands at 30 years.

What Nigeria Is Doing to Contain the Lassa Fever Outbreak

The NCDC has activated the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate the response. This system supports response activities at the federal, state, and local government levels simultaneously. Surveillance and case management efforts are currently active across all 23 affected states.

Despite the absence of new healthcare worker cases in Week 23, the agency cautioned that the higher fatality rate and wider geographical spread indicate that active transmission is still ongoing. The situation, therefore, demands continued public vigilance.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness spread primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or droppings. According to the World Health Organization, the disease is endemic in West Africa, and Nigeria consistently records the highest number of cases on the continent. The Mastomys rat — commonly found across sub-Saharan Africa — serves as the primary host of the virus.

Key prevention measures include storing food in rodent-proof containers, keeping homes clean to discourage rat activity, and avoiding contact with rodents altogether. Early treatment with the antiviral drug ribavirin is also effective when administered promptly.

As the NCDC continues its multi-level response, public health experts stress that community awareness and early reporting of symptoms remain critical tools in slowing the spread. Symptoms of Lassa fever include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting, and in severe cases, bleeding from the nose or mouth. Anyone experiencing these signs should seek medical attention immediately and avoid self-medication.