By Ochiaka Ugwu
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC says no fewer than 17 people have died from Lassa fever in Nigeria across eight states in the first three weeks of 2026.
The NCDC, on Thursday via its weekly epidemiological report for week three, said eight states included Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Benue and Nasarawa, reported new confirmed cases, with Bauchi State accounting for 46 per cent of infections.
The center said the country recorded 93 confirmed cases from the states.
According to the report, the country’s Case Fatality Rate, CFR currently stands at 18.1 per cent, slightly lower than the 18.2 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.
The Public Health agency noted that four health workers were infected in week three, highlighting ongoing occupational risks amid the outbreak.
The agency said that 89 per cent of all confirmed cases were reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo States, while the remaining 11 per cent came from five other states.
It said that the age group most affected ranged from 21years to 30 years, with a median age of 27.5 years, and the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.6.
The NCDC said the national Lassa fever multi-partner Incident Management System (IMS) had been activated to support response activities, including treatment of confirmed cases, distribution of medical countermeasures such as Ribavirin and risk communication at the community level.
It noted challenges such as late hospital visits, poor health-seeking behaviour, and environmental sanitation issues, urging states to intensify community engagement and for healthcare workers to maintain high suspicion for early detection and treatment.
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