Nigeria is grappling with a worsening Lassa fever outbreak, with fresh deaths reported in Taraba, Benue, Plateau, and Edo states.
National data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) show a steady rise in confirmed infections, with 82 cases and 75 deaths recorded so far in 2026.
In Taraba, the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, confirmed 35 deaths among 95 laboratory-confirmed cases.
Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Kirim, Head of Clinical Services, said three hospital staff were infected; two recovered, while a driver died.
He called it “the highest number of suspected cases and fatalities recorded by the centre in recent years.”
Benue has lost 10 health workers to the outbreak, including five doctors and four nurses.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Msuega Asema said infections were linked to human-to-human transmission and lapses in infection control.
In Plateau, authorities reported four deaths and 11 positive cases across seven local government areas, while Edo State has confirmed six deaths among 29 cases.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole declared the outbreak and activated the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
Public health experts urge residents to maintain clean homes, secure food from rodents, and report symptoms early.
Dr. Emmanuel Okeke, infectious disease specialist, said, “Lassa fever is largely preventable if communities take basic environmental and food safety precautions seriously.”
The NCDC emphasizes early diagnosis and treatment, particularly with ribavirin, to improve survival. Hotspots include Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, and Edo, with young adults most affected.
