Lassa Fever Death Toll Hits 172 In 21 States, Says NCDC

Abuja, Nigeria– The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 172 deaths from Lassa fever across 21 states in 2025, representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.6 per cent — an increase from the 17 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.

In its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 40 (Sept. 29–Oct. 5), the NCDC said 924 confirmed cases and 8,041 suspected cases were reported from 106 Local Government Areas nationwide.

According to the report, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi states accounted for 90 per cent of all confirmed cases, with Ondo State alone contributing 35 per cent. The agency also noted that confirmed cases rose from four in Week 39 to 13 in Week 40, all recorded in Ondo.

The NCDC said the most affected age group was 21 to 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8, and no new infections among healthcare workers were reported during the week under review.

The centre attributed the high fatality rate to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, inadequate environmental sanitation, and low awareness in high-burden communities.

To curb the spread, the NCDC said it had deployed 10 national rapid response teams to affected states using a One Health approach.

It added that ongoing interventions include the training of healthcare workers, risk communication campaigns, and the distribution of essential commodities such as Ribavirin, personal protective equipment (PPEs), and thermometers to treatment centres.

Other measures include the INTEGRATE clinical trial in Ondo State, capacity-building workshops for clinicians, and environmental health campaigns in high-risk areas.

The NCDC urged state governments to intensify community engagement, improve early case detection and referral, and called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever to ensure prompt treatment and reduce deaths.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness endemic to Nigeria, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rats.

Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings lacking adequate infection control measures.

The disease typically presents with symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and bleeding, and can lead to organ failure in severe cases.

Nigeria bears the highest global burden of Lassa fever, with most cases reported in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.

The infection peaks during the dry season, between December and April, and carries a high fatality rate, especially among patients who seek medical care late.