Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria has recorded a decline in new Lassa fever infections, but the disease has already claimed 204 lives in 2026, according to the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
In its Week 19 Lassa Fever Situation Report covering May 4 to May 10, the NCDC said confirmed cases fell from 22 in the previous week to 17 new infections recorded across Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Kogi, Taraba and Nasarawa states.
Despite the reduction in weekly cases, the agency reported that the outbreak’s death toll has continued to climb, pushing the case fatality rate to 25.7 per cent, compared with 19.4 per cent during the same period in 2025.
Health officials attributed the rising fatality rate to delayed hospital visits, poor health-seeking behaviour and pressure on healthcare facilities managing severe infections.
According to the report, 23 states and 108 local government areas have recorded at least one confirmed case this year.
The NCDC said 84 per cent of confirmed infections are concentrated in five states.
“Bauchi and Ondo each account for 26 per cent of confirmed cases, making them the highest-burden states in the country,” the agency stated.
“Taraba recorded 16 per cent, Edo nine per cent, while Benue accounted for seven per cent of confirmed cases.”
Young adults aged between 21 and 30 years remain the most affected demographic, with patients ranging from one to 90 years old and a median age of 30.
The agency also confirmed that one healthcare worker contracted the disease during the reporting period.
The NCDC said response efforts, including surveillance, infection prevention training, risk communication and community engagement, remain active nationwide.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 
Otamere Gladness 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius