Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that 172 people have died from Lassa fever so far this year, with infections spreading across 21 states.
According to the agency’s latest situation report covering Week 40 (September 29 to October 5), the country has recorded 924 confirmed cases and 8,041 suspected infections, spanning 106 local government areas.
This year’s case fatality rate (CFR) stands at 18.6%, marking an increase from the 17% reported during the same period in 2024.
“The sharp rise in fatalities is largely due to delayed presentation of cases and poor health-seeking behavior, especially in communities with a high burden of the disease,” the NCDC stated in its update.
Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi—continue to bear the brunt of the outbreak, accounting for 90% of confirmed cases. Ondo alone is responsible for 35% of infections. The agency also noted a spike in new confirmed cases, rising from four in Week 39 to 13 in Week 40—all reported in Ondo.
The NCDC reported that the most affected demographic remains individuals aged 21 to 30, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. Encouragingly, no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the reporting period.
In response to the escalating situation, 10 national rapid response teams have been deployed to the most affected states, using a “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health strategies.
Ongoing response efforts include the distribution of medical supplies such as Ribavirin, personal protective equipment (PPE), and thermometers to treatment centers. Other interventions include risk communication campaigns, clinical trials—such as the INTEGRATE study in Ondo—capacity-building workshops for clinicians, and environmental sanitation drives in high-risk communities.
The NCDC emphasized the need for states to intensify community outreach, promote early detection and referral of cases, and ensure health workers maintain vigilance in identifying and managing potential Lassa fever infections.
Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to Nigeria, spreads primarily through contact with food or items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission is also possible, particularly in healthcare settings lacking proper infection control.
The disease typically peaks during the dry season—between December and April—and can lead to severe complications, including bleeding, organ failure, and death, particularly in cases presented late.
Nigeria continues to carry the highest burden of Lassa fever globally, with recurrent outbreaks centered in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Ebonyi.
