Nigeria records 172 deaths from Lassa Fever – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that 172 people have died from Lassa fever across 21 states so far in 2025, marking a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.6% a rise from the 17% recorded during the same period in 2024.

According to the Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 40 (September 29 – October 5), the NCDC said that 924 confirmed cases and 8,041 suspected cases have been reported from 106 Local Government Areas (LGAs) nationwide.

The report highlighted that Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states accounted for 90% of all confirmed cases, underscoring the need for stronger surveillance and preventive measures in these high-burden regions.

Ondo State alone was responsible for 35 per cent of the cases.

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The centre said that the report indicated that confirmed cases rose from four in Week 39 to 13 in Week 40, all recorded in Ondo State.

The NCDC noted that the predominant age group affected was 21 to 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8, adding that no new healthcare worker infection was reported during the week under review.

It attributed the high fatality rate to the late presentation of cases and poor health-seeking behaviour among residents of high-burden communities.

It also listed poor environmental sanitation and low awareness as factors driving infections.

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

It added that ongoing activities include training of healthcare workers, risk communication campaigns and the distribution of response commodities such as Ribavirin, PPEs, and thermometers to treatment centres.

According to it, other interventions include the ongoing INTEGRATE clinical trial in Ondo State, capacity-building workshops for clinicians, and environmental health campaigns in high-burden states.

The NCDC urged states to strengthen community engagement on prevention and improve early case detection and referral.

It also called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever and initiate timely treatment to reduce deaths.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease endemic in Nigeria, spread mainly through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rats.

It can also spread person-to-person, especially in hospitals without strict infection control.

The illness causes fever, weakness, vomiting, bleeding and in severe cases, organ failure.

Nigeria records the highest global burden, with most cases from Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.

It peaks in the dry season “December–April” and has a high fatality rate, especially when patients present late.

(NAN)