The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that 166 people have died from Lassa fever between January and September 2025.
According to the agency’s latest situation report released on Thursday, the country recorded 7,673 suspected cases and 895 laboratory-confirmed infections across 21 states and 106 local government areas within the nine-month period.
The Case Fatality Rate now stands at 18.5 per cent, which is higher than the 16.9 per cent recorded in the same period in 2024.
“Cumulatively, as at week 37, 2025, 166 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.5 per cent,” the NCDC noted.
It added that 90 per cent of all confirmed cases came from five states – Ondo (33 per cent), Bauchi (23 per cent), Edo (18 per cent), Taraba (13 per cent), and Ebonyi (3 per cent). The remaining 16 states contributed just 10 per cent.
The report further revealed that the most affected age group falls between 21 and 30 years, with a median age of 30. The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases stands at 1:0.8.
While noting a slight decline in new confirmed cases from 13 in week 36 to 11 in week 37, the NCDC said these fresh infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Kogi, and Anambra states.
A health expert at the NCDC, who spoke on the situation, stressed the importance of community awareness.
“Lassa fever remains a serious public health challenge. Preventive measures such as improved hygiene and rodent control in households are critical to reducing the spread,” the official said.
Similarly, the World Health Organisation has warned that the virus is endemic in Nigeria and several West African countries.
It explained that the Lassa virus is mainly transmitted through food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta, though human-to-human transmission can also occur in health facilities lacking proper infection control measures.
The NCDC assured that its multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities nationwide to curb further spread of the disease.
