Nigeria has recorded 469 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 109 deaths so far in 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDCP).
In its Week 9 epidemiological report, covering 23 February to 1 March, the agency said the fatality ratio stands at 23.2 per cent, up from 18.7 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
A total of 65 new confirmed infections were reported within the week, down from 77 cases logged in Week 8.
The latest cases were identified across seven states, including Benue State, Ondo State, Bauchi State, Taraba State, Edo State, Plateau State and Nasarawa State.
Also, the report showed growing risks to frontline staff, with six healthcare workers infected during the week, bringing the cumulative total to 37 for the year.
Between Weeks 1 and 9, Nigeria recorded 2,446 suspected cases of the disease, of which 469 were confirmed and four classified as probable.
The NCDC said 86 per cent of confirmed infections were concentrated in five states, including Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo, while the remaining 14 per cent were spread across 13 other states.
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In total, 18 states and 69 local government areas have reported at least one confirmed case in 2026, stressing the continued geographic spread of the disease.
Young adults appear to be the most affected demographic, with the highest number of cases recorded among people aged 21 to 30 with male-to-female ratio of confirmed infections standing at 1:0.8.
The agency said it has activated a national Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts, including intensified case finding, contact tracing, and deployment of rapid response teams to seven high-burden states.
It added that personal protective equipment has been distributed to treatment centres, while a targeted infection prevention strategy has been rolled out in Benue State with support from the World Health Organisation.
Additional field and clinical support is being provided by partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Despite these measures, the NCDC identified several challenges hampering response efforts, including delayed presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour linked to treatment costs, inadequate sanitation in affected communities, and rising infections among healthcare workers.
The agency has called on state governments to strengthen year-round public awareness and prevention campaigns, while urging healthcare workers to remain vigilant, ensure early referrals, and adhere strictly to infection control protocols.