NCDC reports 176 deaths and 955 confirmed Lassa fever cases across 21 Nigerian states, with an 18.4% fatality rate in 2025

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that the Lassa fever death toll in Nigeria has risen to 176 as of epidemiological Week 43, 2025.

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In its latest report, the agency revealed that the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) 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 (WHO), Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which spreads primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.

The disease remains endemic in several West African countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

The NCDC disclosed that Nigeria has recorded a total of 955 confirmed cases across 21 states and 102 Local Government Areas.

“In Week 43, the number of new confirmed cases increased from nine in Week 42 to eleven, all reported from Ondo State,” the report noted.

Cumulatively, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Taraba States accounted for 88 per cent of all confirmed cases — with Ondo (37%), Bauchi (21%), Edo (17%), and Taraba (13%) leading the chart.

The NCDC stated that the predominant age group affected is 21–30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8 among confirmed cases.

While there were no new infections among healthcare workers in Week 43, the agency emphasized that its multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities across all levels to curb further spread.

Also read: Lassa fever death toll in Nigeria rises to 172 – NCDC

Despite a slight decline in overall suspected and confirmed cases compared to the same period in 2024, the NCDC urged continued vigilance and preventive measures, especially in high-risk states.