Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a rise in confirmed Lassa fever cases, with 162 deaths recorded across 21 states as of epidemiological week 35, spanning August 25 to 31, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported.
The NCDC, via its official website on Tuesday, reported 10
new confirmed cases in week 35 alone, up from three in the previous week.
It said that the new cases were detected in Edo, Ondo,
Bauchi, and Taraba states.
Cumulatively, the agency said that the country has recorded
7,375 suspected cases and 871 confirmed infections in 2025, with a Case
Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.6 per cent, higher than the 17.1 per cent recorded
during the same period in 2024.
It stated that Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states
remain the country’s hotspots, accounting for 91 per cent of all confirmed
cases.
The NCDC said that of these, Ondo contributed 33 per cent,
Bauchi 23 per cent, Edo 18 per cent, Taraba 14 per cent, and Ebonyi three per
cent.
The agency noted that most affected patients are aged
between 21 and 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
While it stated that the overall number of suspected and
confirmed cases was lower compared to the same period last year, the NCDC
warned of persistent risks.
It noted that late presentation of cases, poor
health-seeking behaviour due to treatment costs, and poor sanitation in
high-burden communities are contributing to the high death toll.
The Nigerian public health agency said that no new
healthcare worker infection was reported in week 35, though 23 health workers
have been affected since the beginning of the year.
The Centre said it has deployed 10 rapid response teams to
support affected states, enhanced surveillance, and distributed medical
countermeasures, including ribavirin, PPEs, and sanitisers.
It also announced plans to launch a five-year strategic plan
(2025–2029) for Lassa fever control.
The NCDC urged Nigerians, especially in hotspot states, to
maintain proper hygiene, improve rodent control, and seek early medical care to
reduce the spread and impact of the disease.
NAN reported that Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic
disease endemic in Nigeria, spread mainly through contact with food or
household items contaminated by infected rats.
It can also spread person-to-person, especially in hospitals
without strict infection control.
The illness causes fever, weakness, vomiting, bleeding, and
in severe cases, organ failure.
Nigeria records the highest global burden, with most cases
from Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.
It peaks in the dry season “December–April” and has a high
fatality rate, especially when patients present late.
Treatment with Ribavirin works best when started early,
alongside supportive care.
Lassa fever remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest recurrent
outbreaks, driven by rodent exposure, poor sanitation, and delayed
health-seeking behaviour.
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