The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the death toll from Lassa fever in the country had climbed to 168, with 906 cases recorded so far in 2025.
In its latest epidemiological report covering January 1 to September 21, the agency said the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) now stood at 18.5 per cent, higher than the 16.9 per cent reported in the same period last year.
According to the report, which was released on Friday, Nigeria has so far documented 7,792 suspected cases of the viral disease across 21 states and 106 local government areas.
The majority of confirmed cases – 90 per cent – were concentrated in five states: Ondo (33 per cent), Bauchi (23 per cent), Edo (18 per cent), Taraba (13 per cent) and Ebonyi (3 per cent).
‘Cumulatively, as at week 38, 2025, 168 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.5 per cent, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (16.9 per cent),’ the NCDC stated.
The agency noted that no new health care worker was infected in the latest reporting week, while overall suspected and confirmed cases have declined compared to last year.
Lassa fever, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is an acute viral illness endemic in West Africa, primarily transmitted to humans through food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or faeces.
Person-to-person transmission, the WHO added, could also occur, especially in health care facilities without proper infection control.
The NCDC said its multi-partner, multi-sectoral technical working group continues to coordinate response activities at national and subnational levels.