Nigeria recorded 263 deaths from Lassa fever and 1,115 confirmed cases between January and September 20, 2026, as the case fatality rate increased to 23.6 per cent. This is according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention NCDC. The agency disclosed this in its latest Lassa fever situation report covering September 14 to 20, 2026, noting that the fatality rate is higher than the 18.5 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. During the same period last year, Nigeria recorded 906 confirmed cases and 168 deaths, indicating an increase in both infections and fatalities in 2026. The NCDC recorded 8,218 suspected cases during the first 38 epidemiological weeks of 2026, compared with 7,792 in the corresponding period of 2025. Confirmed infections were reported across 119 local government areas in 24 states, with Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue accounting for approximately 87 per cent of the total cases. As part of its response, the NCDC said it will continue to support active case searches and contact tracing, train frontline healthcare workers, distribute personal protective equipment and conduct laboratory testing. The agency added that the national Lassa fever technical working group remains engaged in coordinating response activities across all levels to strengthen surveillance, case management and outbreak control.