Nigeria recorded 18 new confirmed cases of Lassa fever in epidemiological week 35, bringing the total number of confirmed cases recorded in 2026 to 1,074, with 258 deaths reported across 24 states.

The latest Lassa Fever Situation Report of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, covering August 24 to 30, 2026, showed that the new cases were recorded in Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states.

The cumulative case fatality rate has risen to 24 per cent, compared with 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, when 162 deaths were reported. The NCDC said confirmed cases declined from 21 in week 34 to 18 in week 35.

According to the agency, 7,785 suspected cases have been recorded so far this year, compared with 7,375 during the same period in 2025. Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue—accounted for 86 per cent of all confirmed cases.

Ondo State recorded the highest proportion at 34 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 24 per cent, Taraba 12 per cent, Edo 10 per cent and Benue six per cent.

The NCDC said people aged 21 to 30 years remained the predominant age group affected, with confirmed cases ranging from one to 93 years and a median age of 30. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases was 1:0.9.

No new healthcare worker infection was recorded during the week under review, although 54 healthcare workers have been affected cumulatively in 2026.

The agency disclosed that 13 patients were being managed at treatment centres during week 35, bringing the cumulative number of patients managed at treatment centres to 816.

The NCDC attributed the high fatality rate to late presentation, poor health-seeking behaviour and the high cost of treatment and clinical management. It also identified poor environmental sanitation, inadequate awareness in high-burden communities and healthcare worker infections as major challenges.

The agency said it had intensified surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, contact tracing and community engagement in affected states, while National Rapid Response Teams had been deployed to seven high-burden states.

It added that personal protective equipment and other infection-prevention commodities had been distributed to health facilities, while a 30-day Healthcare Worker Protection Plan had been developed with support from the World Health Organisation and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The plan is aimed at reducing Lassa fever infections among frontline healthcare workers in affected states.

The NCDC urged states to sustain community engagement throughout the year and strengthen efforts to prevent, detect and respond promptly to cases.

It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, ensure timely referral and treatment, and strictly observe infection prevention and control procedures.

The agency further called on states and partners to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks, while urging improved environmental sanitation and public awareness in communities with a high burden of the disease.