The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised concern over the rising fatality rate of Lassa fever, even as the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases this year remains lower than in 2024.
In its latest report published on its official website on Tuesday, the agency disclosed that 162 deaths have been recorded across 21 states in 2025, as of epidemiological week 35, covering August 25 to 31.
During the same week, 10 new confirmed infections were reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, and Taraba states, an increase from three cases the previous week.
The cumulative figures for 2025 show 7,375 suspected cases and 871 confirmed infections, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.6 per cent. This, the NCDC noted, is higher than the 17.1 per cent CFR recorded within the same period last year.
Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states continue to account for the bulk of the outbreak, contributing 91 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ondo leads with 33 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 23 per cent, Edo with 18 per cent, Taraba with 14 per cent, and Ebonyi with three per cent.
The report highlighted that most patients fall within the 21 to 30 years age group, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
Despite no new healthcare worker infections reported in week 35, the agency confirmed that 23 health workers have been affected since January.
The NCDC attributed the high fatality to factors such as late presentation of patients in hospitals, poor health-seeking behaviour caused by treatment costs, and inadequate sanitation in high-burden communities.
To strengthen the response, the Centre said it has deployed 10 rapid response teams to affected states, scaled up surveillance, and distributed countermeasures, including ribavirin, personal protective equipment, and sanitisers.
It further announced plans to roll out a five-year strategic plan (2025–2029) dedicated to Lassa fever control.
The agency urged residents, especially in hotspot states, to maintain hygiene, improve rodent control, and seek early medical attention to reduce the disease’s impact.
Lassa fever, an endemic viral haemorrhagic disease in Nigeria, spreads mainly through food or household items contaminated by infected rats and can also be transmitted person-to-person in healthcare settings without strict infection control. Symptoms include fever, weakness, vomiting, bleeding, and, in severe cases, organ failure.
The disease peaks during the dry season from December to April. Nigeria continues to bear the world’s highest burden of Lassa fever, with recurrent outbreaks fuelled by rodent exposure, poor sanitation, and delayed access to care.
