People aged 21 to 30 years remain the predominant age group affected by Lassa fever in Nigeria, as the country recorded 1,035 confirmed cases and 252 deaths in 2026. This was revealed in the latest situation report for epidemiological week 33, released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Tuesday.
According to the NCDC’s report spanning 10 to 16 August, the confirmed cases were reported in 23 states and 117 local government areas (LGAs) The report shows that confirmed cases were recorded among people aged between one and 93 years, with a median age of 30 years. The age and sex distribution showed that people aged 21 to 30 accounted for the largest share of confirmed cases among both males and females.
The distribution between men and women was relatively close, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.9 among confirmed cases. The latest report showed a sharp increase in new confirmed cases from four in week 32 (3 to 9 August) to 14. In week 33, the 14 new confirmed cases were recorded in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi and Benue states. Two deaths were also recorded during the week, compared with one death in week 32.
The week 32 report had recorded 140 suspected cases and four confirmed cases, with one death. Cumulatively for 2026, Nigeria recorded 7,426 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases and 252 deaths. The case fatality rate (CFR) also increased from 23.5 per cent in week 32 to 24.4 per cent in week 33. Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue accounted for 87 per cent of all confirmed cases as of week 33, while the remaining 18 affected states accounted for 13 per cent.
Ondo recorded the highest share, accounting for 33 per cent of confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi with 25 per cent, Taraba