The Nigeria Centre for Disease Assist watch over (NCDC) says no fewer than 17 folks have died from Lassa fever across eight states in the first three weeks of 2026.
The company disclosed this in its weekly epidemiological document for week three, launched on Thursday.
The NCDC acknowledged Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Benue and Nasarawa states recorded fresh confirmed cases during the duration.
It acknowledged Bauchi accounted for 46 percent of the final infections reported nationwide.
According to the document, Nigeria recorded 93 confirmed Lassa fever cases from the affected states.
The company acknowledged the case fatality payment in the intervening time stands at 18.1 percent, somewhat decrease than the 18.2 percent recorded during the same duration in 2025.
The NCDC acknowledged four scientific examiners were infected in week three, underscoring the occupational risks connected to the outbreak.
It added that 89 percent of confirmed cases were reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo states, whereas the remaining 11 percent got here from five various states.
The company acknowledged essentially the most affected age neighborhood was once 21 to 30 years, with a median age of 27.5 years.
It added that the male-to-feminine ratio among confirmed cases was once 1:0.6.
The NCDC acknowledged the nationwide Lassa fever multi-companion incident management diagram had been activated to reinforce response actions.
It acknowledged the response includes treatment of confirmed cases, distribution of scientific countermeasures akin to Ribavirin, and chance communication on the neighborhood level.
The company identified leisurely presentation at successfully being companies, uncomfortable successfully being-seeking behaviour and environmental sanitation challenges as key points affecting the response.
It entreated states to intensify neighborhood engagement and told healthcare workers to maintain a excessive index of suspicion for early detection and suggested treatment.
The NCDC also told Nigerians to inspect correct hygiene practices and promptly document suspected cases to successfully being authorities.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in Nigeria and points of West Africa.
The disease is basically transmitted to folks through contact with meals or home goods contaminated with urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats.
Human-to-human transmission could perhaps additionally occur, severely in healthcare settings with out ample infection prevention and control measures.
The disease in most cases peaks during the dry season, between December and April, when contact between folks and rodents increases.
