The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday said the Lassa fever death toll in Nigeria has risen to 176.
The latest epidemiological report released by the NCDC stated that as of epidemiological Week 43, 2025, the Case Fatality Rate now stands at 18.4 per cent, up from 16.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
According to the World Health Organisation, Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.
WHO said humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.
The UN body noted that Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.
As of Week 43, Nigeria has reported a total of 955 confirmed cases.
In total for 2025, 21 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 102 Local Government Areas.
In week 43, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 9 in epi week 42 to 11. These were reported in Ondo State.
Cumulatively as at week 43, 2025, 176 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.4 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (16.6 per cent).
” In total for 2025, 21 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 102 Local Government Areas,” the report partly read.
According to NCDC, 88 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from four states (Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Taraba) while 12 per cent were reported from 17 states with confirmed
Lassa fever cases.
Of the 88 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 37 per cent, Bauchi 21 per cent, Edo 17 per cent and Taraba 13 per cent.
“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 96 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
“The number of suspected and confirmed cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.
No new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 43. The National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues supporting coordination of response activities at all levels,” it added.
PUNCH NEWS.
