Nigeria has recorded 1,086 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 259 deaths across 24 states and 118 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The figures are contained in the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological week 36, covering August 31 to September 6, 2026.
The agency reported 12 new confirmed cases during the week, down from 18 cases recorded in the preceding week.
The new cases were reported in Ondo, Edo and Kogi states, while the cumulative number of deaths rose from 258 to 259.
The resulting case fatality rate (CFR) stood at 23.9 per cent, slightly lower than the 24 per cent recorded in week 35, but higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The NCDC said 87 per cent of the confirmed cases recorded so far in 2026 came from five states — Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo.
People aged 21 to 30 years remained the most affected age group.
The agency also reported that no new healthcare worker was infected during epidemiological week 36.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in Nigeria. The NCDC continues to monitor confirmed infections, deaths and healthcare worker exposure as part of its national surveillance and response activities.
The latest figures bring the national 2026 tally to 1,086 confirmed cases, 259 deaths, 24 affected states and 118 LGAs.
