No fewer than 31 people have died from Lassa fever, with over 754 suspected cases recorded across 33 local government areas in nine states, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has shown.
The agency disclosed that nine health workers were among those infected within the first five weeks of 2026, as Nigeria battles a fresh outbreak amid concerns over inadequate health sector funding.
According to the World Health Organization, Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus and primarily transmitted through exposure to food or household items contaminated by infected Mastomys rats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings lacking proper infection prevention and control.
The NCDC noted that 92 per cent of confirmed cases were reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Plateau states, with the remaining cases spread across four other states.
Currently, 135 patients are receiving treatment, while at least 110 suspected cases are under contact tracing and monitoring. The agency said it has activated its National Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre and deployed response teams to affected states to curb the spread.
