Lassa fever deaths hit 252 as Nigeria records 14 new cases

… CFR rises to 24.4%, 87% of cases concentrated in five statesBy Chioma Obinna Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak on Tuesday continued to take a heavy toll, with the country recording 252 deaths from 1,035 confirmed cases as of epidemiological week 33, translating to a case fatality rate (CFR) of 24.4 per cent. According to the latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC) showed that 14 new confirmed cases were recorded between August 10 and 16, 2026, a sharp increase from the four cases reported in the preceding week. The new cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Benue states, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases to 7,426, while six probable cases have also been recorded.

The development has raised concern as the current CFR remains significantly higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025, despite intensified surveillance, case management and infection prevention measures. According to the NCDC Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epi Week 33, released on the outbreak, 23 states and 117 Local Government Areas have recorded at least one confirmed case this year. The agency said five states including Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue, accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed cases recorded nationally.

Ondo State alone accounted for 33 per cent of confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba 13 per cent, Edo 10 per cent and Benue six per cent. The NCDC said the predominant age group affected was 21–30 years, with patients ranging from one to 93 years and a median age of 30 years. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases was 1:0.9.

The agency further disclosed that 54 healthcare workers have been affected cumulatively in 2026, although no new healthcare worker infection was reported during week 33. The rising fatality rate has been linked in part to late presentation and poor health-seeking behaviour.The NCDC identified late presentation of cases, high cost of treatment and clinical management, poor environmental sanitation, inadequate awareness in high-burden communities and healthcare-worker infections among the major challenges confronting the response. It warned that delayed presentation could worsen outcomes, stressing the need for early recognition, referral and treatment.

The agency said, “Healthcare workers” should maintain a high index of suspicion fo…