The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 172 fatalities linked to Lassa fever outbreaks spanning 21 states, marking a concerning increase in death tolls compared to the previous year.
In its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 40 (September 29 to October 5, 2025), the agency reported a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.6%, surpassing the 17% recorded during the same timeframe in 2024.
To date, the NCDC has recorded 924 laboratory-nigeria-education-crisis-jamb-chair-epelle/” title=”JAMB Panel Chair Epelle Sounds the Alarm: …'s Education Sector Faces Serious Challenges”>confirmed cases alongside 8,041 suspected infections across 106 Local Government Areas nationwide.
The states most severely impacted include Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi, which together account for 90% of confirmed cases. Notably, Ondo State alone represents 35% of these confirmed infections.
The report also highlighted a recent surge in confirmed cases, noting an increase from four cases in Week 39 to 13 in Week 40, all reported within Ondo State.
Young adults aged between 21 and 30 remain the most vulnerable group, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1:0.8. Encouragingly, no new infections among healthcare workers were documented during the latest reporting period.
The NCDC attributes the elevated fatality rate primarily to delayed healthcare seeking and late presentation of patients in communities heavily affected by the disease.
Related: Reps intervene to resolve PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery conflict
Additionally, inadequate environmental hygiene and limited public awareness have been identified as key factors fueling the ongoing transmission of Lassa fever.
In response, the NCDC has mobilized 10 national rapid response teams to the affected states, implementing a One Health strategy aimed at curbing the outbreak.
Current efforts include comprehensive training for healthcare professionals, widespread risk communication initiatives, and the distribution of essential medical supplies such as Ribavirin, personal protective equipment (PPE), and thermometers to treatment facilities.
Other ongoing measures involve the INTEGRATE clinical trial underway in Ondo State, capacity enhancement workshops for clinicians, and targeted environmental sanitation campaigns in the hardest-hit areas.
The NCDC has called on state authorities to strengthen community engagement, improve early detection and referral mechanisms, and boost public education to halt further spread of the virus.
Healthcare workers are also urged to maintain vigilance for potential Lassa fever cases and to commence timely treatment to reduce mortality.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease endemic to Nigeria, primarily transmitted through exposure to food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission is possible, particularly in healthcare settings lacking stringent infection control.
Symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and bleeding, with severe cases potentially resulting in organ failure and death.
Nigeria continues to bear the highest global burden of Lassa fever, with Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Ebonyi consistently identified as hotspots. The disease usually peaks during the dry season from December to April and remains one of the country’s deadliest viral infections.
