Lassa fever kills 17 Nigerians in eight states inside three weeks
The Nigeria Centre for Illness Management (NCDC) says no fewer than 17 individuals have died from Lassa fever throughout eight states within the first three weeks of 2026.
The company disclosed this in its weekly epidemiological report for week three, launched on Thursday.
The NCDC mentioned Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Benue and Nasarawa states recorded new confirmed circumstances in the course of the interval.
It mentioned Bauchi accounted for 46 % of the full infections reported nationwide.
In accordance with the report, Nigeria recorded 93 confirmed Lassa fever circumstances from the affected states.
The company mentioned the case fatality charge at present stands at 18.1 %, barely decrease than the 18.2 % recorded throughout the identical interval in 2025.
The NCDC mentioned 4 well being staff have been contaminated in week three, underscoring the occupational dangers related to the outbreak.
It added that 89 % of confirmed circumstances have been reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo states, whereas the remaining 11 % got here from 5 different states.
The company mentioned probably the most affected age group was 21 to 30 years, with a median age of 27.5 years.
It added that the male-to-female ratio amongst confirmed circumstances was 1:0.6.
The NCDC mentioned the nationwide Lassa fever multi-partner incident administration system had been activated to assist response actions.
It mentioned the response consists of remedy of confirmed circumstances, distribution of medical countermeasures resembling Ribavirin, and danger communication on the group degree.
The company recognized late presentation at well being amenities, poor health-seeking behaviour and environmental sanitation challenges as key points affecting the response.
It urged states to accentuate group engagement and suggested healthcare staff to keep up a excessive index of suspicion for early detection and immediate remedy.
The NCDC additionally suggested Nigerians to watch good hygiene practices and promptly report suspected circumstances to well being authorities.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic sickness endemic in Nigeria and elements of West Africa.
The illness is primarily transmitted to people by means of contact with meals or home items contaminated with urine or faeces of contaminated multimammate rats.
Human-to-human transmission also can happen, notably in healthcare settings with out ample an infection prevention and management measures.
The illness usually peaks in the course of the dry season, between December and April, when contact between people and rodents will increase.