Abuja – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that 166 people died from Lassa fever between January and September 2025, with the case fatality rate higher than in 2024.
According to the agency’s update for Epidemiological Week 37, covering September 8 to 14, a total of 895 confirmed cases have been recorded across 21 states and 106 local government areas.
The report showed that the case fatality rate currently stands at 18.5 percent, compared to 16.9 percent within the same period in 2024.
The agency explained that although suspected and confirmed cases are fewer than last year, more patients are dying due to late presentation and poor health-seeking behaviour, often linked to the high cost of treatment.
It listed Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi states as accounting for 90 per cent of all confirmed cases, with Ondo State alone responsible for a third of infections.
The NCDC confirmed that no new healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week but warned that poor environmental sanitation, weak awareness in high-burden communities and delayed treatment continue to fuel the spread and severity of the disease.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus. It is transmitted to humans through food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, particularly the multi-mammate rat.
Human-to-human transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings without proper infection control.
Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.
The disease is endemic in parts of West Africa, with Nigeria bearing the highest burden.
To strengthen control, the NCDC said it had deployed 10 rapid response teams to affected states, launched new infection prevention and control training modules, and supported clinical management fellowship programmes in collaboration with local and international partners.
The agency urged states to intensify community engagement and preventive campaigns and reminded healthcare workers to maintain high suspicion and initiate early treatment when symptoms appear