NCDC Reports 99 Lassa Fever Deaths, Nearly 2,000 Cases Reported in 2026 Outbreak

No fewer than 99 Nigerians have died from Lassa fever within the first eight weeks of 2026, as the total number of recorded cases climbed to 1,989, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

Data obtained from the NCDC indicated that the deaths were recorded from confirmed infections reported across several states in the country during the period under review. The figures highlight the continuing public health challenge posed by the viral disease in Nigeria.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness commonly transmitted to humans through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rodents.

Health authorities have repeatedly warned that the disease typically peaks during the dry season, when rodents move closer to human settlements in search of food.

The NCDC continues to coordinate national response efforts, including surveillance, case management, and public awareness campaigns aimed at preventing further spread of the disease across affected states.

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