Lassa fever death toll hits 70 as NCDC confirms 318 cases

70 people have died from Lassa fever in Nigeria within the first seven weeks of 2026, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed.

Data released for Epidemiological Weeks 1 to 7 show that 318 cases were confirmed from 1,469 suspected infections recorded between 29 December 2025 and 15 February 2026. The Case Fatality Rate stands at 22 per cent. Fifteen health workers have also been infected.

Speaking at a media briefing, the agency’s Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said five states account for 91 per cent of confirmed infections, while 10 local government areas represent 68 per cent of cases.

“Lassa fever remains endemic in Nigeria and typically peaks during the dry season between November and May. The current trend aligns with established seasonal patterns. While the numbers are concerning, there is no cause for panic. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment significantly improve survival,” he said.

The agency has activated its Incident Management System and is coordinating response efforts through the National Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre, which now meets weekly.

Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to affected states including Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Benue and Jigawa.

Idris said laboratory supplies, medicines, personal protective equipment and other infection prevention materials had been distributed nationwide. He added that authorities were probing the rising number of infections among medical personnel.

“Protecting healthcare workers remains a top priority. We are actively investigating the drivers of healthcare worker infections to better understand contributing factors,” he stated.

He acknowledged persistent challenges such as weak contact tracing, delayed presentation of cases, stigma and funding gaps in some states.

“State ownership remains a key challenge, particularly in relation to contact tracing. When contacts are not identified early, cases are detected late, and that contributes to higher fatality rates,” he warned.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, store food in rodent-proof containers and seek medical attention promptly for persistent fever unresponsive to malaria treatment.

“Lassa fever is preventable and treatable when detected early. The national response remains fully activated, and we continue to monitor trends closely,” Idris said.