Koko Maxwella 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria recorded nine deaths from Lassa fever in the first epidemiological week of 2026, pushing the case fatality rate to a worrying 42.9 per cent, health authorities say.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), 21 new confirmed cases are reported between 29 December 2025 and 4 January 2026.
The agency says 104 suspected cases are recorded during the period, with confirmed infections detected in Bauchi, Ondo and Edo states across nine local government areas.
Bauchi accounts for 57 per cent of confirmed cases, followed by Ondo with 29 per cent and Edo with 14 per cent.
Although total infections decline compared with late 2025, fatalities rise sharply. The case fatality rate of 42.9 per cent is more than double the 18.5 per cent recorded during the same period last year.
The NCDC says young adults aged 21 to 30 remain the most affected group, with a median age of 23.5 years. Men are disproportionately affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.4.
No healthcare worker is infected during the reporting week, a development the agency attributes to improved infection prevention and control practices.
The NCDC says its multi-sectoral technical working group continues to coordinate response efforts, including strengthening treatment centres, improving diagnostics and distributing medical supplies such as Ribavirin and personal protective equipment.
Community sensitisation campaigns supported by UNICEF and the Robert Koch Institute focus on hygiene, early reporting and behavioural change in high-burden areas.
However, the agency warns that late presentation, poor health-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs and weak sanitation continue to fuel fatalities.
The NCDC urges states to sustain year-round community engagement and calls on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for early diagnosis and treatment.
About the Author
Mirian Gom 
Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwafunbi Bello