Lassa Fever Deaths Reach 191 as Nigeria’s Fatality Rate Surges to 25.2%

Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak has killed 191 people so far in 2026, with the case fatality rate jumping to 25.2 percent, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. That’s up sharply from 19.1 percent recorded in earlier weeks — and the trajectory is not reassuring.

The NCDC blamed the high death toll on patients arriving at hospitals too late, often when the disease had already taken hold. The outbreak has spread across multiple states, though the agency’s Week 17 report did not break down which regions were hardest hit.

Late treatment worsens outbreak

Delayed care is the single biggest problem in managing this outbreak. Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease spread mainly through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, responds well to the antiviral drug ribavirin — but only when caught early.

“The case fatality rate is rising because people are coming to the hospital too late,” a health official said. “By the time they present, the disease has already progressed to a stage where even with treatment, survival is not guaranteed.”

The NCDC has repeatedly urged Nigerians to seek immediate care if they experience symptoms: fever, weakness, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain. Getting diagnosed early and isolating cases is what breaks the chain.

Multiple states affected

The latest report skipped a state-by-state breakdown, but Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, and Bauchi have been persistent hotspots in past outbreaks. Lassa fever is endemic there, typically peaking between December and April each year.

Public health experts want rodent control intensified, sanitation improved, and community awareness scaled up. Healthcare workers are also being urged to maintain strict infection control when handling suspected cases.

The 191 deaths already exceed the total from several previous annual outbreaks. With the rainy season approaching, the concern is that things could get worse before they get better.

Sources: Premium Times, The Eagle, allAfrica