Nigeria's Lassa fever death toll has reached 214 this year, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week. The fatality rate now stands at 25.0 per cent.
That's a dramatic jump from 18.9 per cent recorded during the same period last year. Both suspected and confirmed cases have also climbed compared to 2025.
According to the NCDC's weekly report for June 1 to June 7, new confirmed cases remained unchanged from the previous week. Infections surfaced in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi states during that period.
Healthcare workers were spared this week. No new infections among medical staff were documented.
Since January 2026, the outbreak has expanded across 23 states and 109 local government areas. Just five states account for 84 per cent of all confirmed cases.
In Benue State, a medical doctor has died from the virus. Dr Vitalis Tersoo Azever worked with APIN Public Health Initiatives in Konshisha Local Government Area.
Complications from Lassa fever claimed his life at Jos University Teaching Hospital in Plateau State. He'd been receiving treatment there before he succumbed.
His death shook Benue's medical community. It came just two days after another young doctor, Dr Cedric Tyoor Kondom, died at the same hospital from bone marrow failure.
State Commissioner of Health and Human Resources Dr Paul Ogwuche confirmed the case to journalists in Makurdi on Monday. He said Azever had fought the illness for over two weeks before dying.
Officials had nearly declared the outbreak finished in Benue. But this fresh case emerged just days before they planned that announcement.
Ogwuche noted that Azever hailed from Kwande local government area, though he worked in Konshisha. The doctor was buried on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
A baseline investigation revealed Azever's kidneys had already been damaged. The damage likely worsened his condition during treatment.
Health authorities have activated emergency response measures immediately. Contact tracing efforts are now underway across affected communities.
According to Ogwuche, the ministry has stepped up awareness campaigns. Officials are returning to communities to educate residents about prevention measures.
The commissioner stressed that containing the virus remains the priority. Protecting state residents from further spread is now critical.
