At least 31 people have died from Lassa fever in Nigeria since the start of 2026, with 754 suspected infections recorded across 33 local government areas in nine states, according to data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The agency also confirmed that nine healthcare workers were among those infected during the first five weeks of the year, raising fresh concerns about infection control and the resilience of the country’s health system.
Lassa fever, an acute viral illness transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, remains endemic in Nigeria and parts of West Africa.
The disease is spread by the Mastomys rat species and can also be transmitted between humans, especially in medical settings without proper protective measures.
The World Health Organisation describes Lassa fever as a viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, warning that healthcare environments without strict infection-prevention protocols risk amplifying outbreaks.
Providing an update on the current situation, the NCDC said most confirmed infections were concentrated in a handful of states.
“About 92 per cent of confirmed Lassa fever cases this year were reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Plateau states, while the remaining eight per cent came from four other states,” the agency stated.
It added that 135 patients were currently receiving treatment at designated centres, while at least 110 suspected cases were under active surveillance through contact tracing and monitoring.
The public health body also outlined measures taken to contain the outbreak, including field operations and strengthened laboratory response.
“We have deployed a high-level response mission to Bauchi State, activated the Incident Management System at the National Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre, and intensified laboratory testing across our network to support early diagnosis and treatment,” the NCDC said.
The agency further noted that it was pushing for dedicated budgetary provisions to sustain prevention and control efforts nationwide.
