The NCDC confirmed 14 new Lassa fever cases across four states, raising the total number of deaths in Nigeria to 252.
Health officers from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed fourteen new cases of Lassa fever in the country.
The official report was released on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from the agency headquarters in Abuja, covering medical checks carried out between August 10 and August 16.
The fresh cases were discovered in four states, which are Bauchi, Benue, Ondo, and Edo. With these fourteen new cases, the total number of confirmed sick people in Nigeria this year has reached 1,035, while 252 people have died from the sickness.
The main reason why health leaders are warning the public is that Lassa fever is spreading faster and killing more people than last year.
Lassa fever is a dangerous sickness caused by a virus that spreads when people touch food, water, or household items that have been touched by rat urine or rat poo.
It can also spread from a sick person to another person through body fluids like blood or sweat. The death rate for this year has gone up to 24 point four percent, which is higher than the 18.6% recorded during the same period in 2025. Health officers say most of the people catching the sickness are young adults between 20 and 30 years old.
Five states, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, and Benue, account for 87% of all confirmed cases in the country, with Ondo State alone having the highest number of sick people.
Health workers are asking citizens to keep their houses clean, cover all food containers tightly, kill rats around their homes, and go to the hospital immediately if they start feeling high fever, body pain, or weakness.
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Explaining the new numbers and warning doctors to be careful, the national health agency shared details about the rising cases in its weekly report.
Sharing the official update on the national situation, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention stated that “the 14 new cases represented an increase from four cases reported during epidemiological Week 32,” adding that “cumulative infections reached 1,035 cases”.
Advising doctors and nurses in hospitals to take extra care when treating sick patients, the agency advised that “healthcare workers should maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, initiate timely referral and treatment, and adhere strictly to standard infection prevention and control procedures”.
Government response teams have been sent to affected states to distribute medical supplies and teach citizens how to protect their homes from rats.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
