Nigeria, May 30 -- The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that 204 people have died from Lassa fever this year, as the disease's fatality rate continues to rise despite a decline in new infections.

In its latest Lassa fever situation report for Epidemiological Week 19, covering 4 to 10 May 2026, the agency said the country recorded 793 confirmed cases and 204 deaths across 23 states and 108 local government areas.

The agency noted that the case fatality rate (CFR) stood at 25.7 per cent, significantly higher than the 19.4 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

According to the report, new confirmed infections dropped from 22 cases in Week 18 to 17 cases in Week 19.

The latest infections we...