Nigeria Battles Rising Lassa Fever Surge in Early 2026: Bauchi Leads with 43 Cases, 8 Deaths in First Three Weeks
By Emmanuel Kwada
Nigeria has recorded a troubling escalation in Lassa fever cases right from the beginning of 2026, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirming a total of 93 cases and 17 deaths across the country by the end of the first three epidemiological weeks.
NCDC weekly report shows the case fatality rate stands at approximately 18.1%, reflecting the severity of the viral haemorrhagic illness in its current outbreak phase.
Training of NCDC National Reference Lab team on diagnosis for Lassa fever in 2016. Photo courtesy: NCDC
The weekly breakdown reveals a worrying upward trend: 21 confirmed cases and 9 deaths were reported in Week 1, followed by 33 confirmed cases in Week 2, and a further 39 confirmed cases in Week 3, with additional fatalities pushing the cumulative death toll to 17.
This early momentum has raised serious concern among health officials, even though the total figures remain lower than the peak numbers seen in some previous high-burden years.
Bauchi State has emerged as the epicentre of the outbreak, reporting the highest number of infections with 43 confirmed cases and 8 deaths, accounting for a substantial share of the national burden. Ondo State follows with 19 cases and 1 death, continuing its status as one of Nigeria’s long-standing endemic zones.
Taraba recorded 11 cases and 2 deaths, while Edo reported 10 cases and 3 deaths. Plateau State has seen 4 cases and 1 death, including reports of a frontline doctor’s death that has intensified calls for immediate intervention in affected local government areas such as Quanpan, Shendam and parts of Jos.
Ebonyi and Benue each recorded 2 cases, with Benue unfortunately recording 2 deaths from those infections.
The geographic distribution of cases spans northern, north-central and southwestern regions, aligning with the typical seasonal pattern of Lassa fever, which tends to rise during the dry season when rodent activity increases and human-rodent contact becomes more frequent.
The multimammate rat, the primary reservoir of the Lassa virus, transmits the infection mainly through contact with its urine, saliva or excreta, often via contaminated food, water or household items.
Keep homes and surroundings clean, dispose of garbage properly, avoid eating rats, practise regular hand hygiene.
The NCDC has activated its national multisectoral incident management system and is working closely with state ministries of health, the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (the country’s national Lassa fever treatment and reference centre), and international partners to strengthen surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, case management and infection prevention measures.
According to the report Ribavirin, the main antiviral drug used in treatment, has been rapidly deployed to affected health facilities, while contact tracing and monitoring of exposed individuals are actively ongoing. Community sensitization efforts are focusing on rodent-proof food storage, proper waste disposal, early symptom recognition and the importance of seeking care at the first sign of illness.
Health authorities are particularly urging Nigerians to watch for symptoms including fever, headache, sore throat, general weakness, muscle pain, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, bleeding from body openings. Prompt presentation at health facilities has been shown to dramatically improve survival chances.
To prevent further spread, the NCDC is reinforcing the following recommendations: store all food in rodent-proof containers, keep homes and surroundings clean, dispose of garbage properly, avoid eating rats, practise regular hand hygiene, and ensure healthcare workers use appropriate personal protective equipment when managing suspected or confirmed cases.
Human-to-human transmission remains a significant risk in healthcare settings without adequate infection control.
NCDC official emphasize that while the current surge is concerning, it is still manageable with strong community participation, early reporting of suspected cases and sustained investment in surveillance, laboratory capacity and response infrastructure.
The NCDC has pledged to continue issuing weekly situation updates to keep the public informed and guide preventive actions.
Nigerians are encouraged to stay vigilant, adopt simple preventive habits and report any suspected cases immediately to the nearest health facility or through the NCDC toll-free line. Prompt action continues to be the most powerful tool in saving lives and containing this seasonal threat.
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