Nigeria’s disease control agency, the NCDC, reports 1,086 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2026, including 259 deaths. The NCDC says the case fatality rate is 23.9% and that cases are reported across 24 states.
Both outlets describe the same national figures for 2026. Premium Times adds that the 2026 case fatality rate is higher than the 18.6% recorded during the same period in 2025, indicating a worse outcome compared with the prior year. The Punch focuses primarily on the count of cases, deaths, and geographic spread, without extending the comparison to 2025.
