(DDM) — The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that Lassa fever has claimed 172 lives across 21 states, reflecting a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.6 per cent, surpassing the 17 per cent recorded in the same period last year.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the figures were contained in the Week 40 Lassa Fever Situation Report, covering September 29 to October 5, 2025.
During this period, 924 confirmed cases and 8,041 suspected cases were reported across 106 Local Government Areas.
The report identified Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states as the major high-burden regions, accounting for 90 per cent of all confirmed cases, with Ondo State alone contributing 35 per cent.
Confirmed cases in Ondo increased from four in Week 39 to 13 in Week 40, highlighting the rapid spread within the state.
The most affected age group was 21 to 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. Fortunately, no new infections among healthcare workers were reported during the week.
The NCDC attributed the rising fatality rate to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, inadequate sanitation, and low public awareness about preventive measures.
The agency emphasized that many deaths could have been avoided with early intervention.
To combat the outbreak, the NCDC deployed 10 national rapid response teams to affected states, adopting a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health strategies.
Training for healthcare workers, risk communication campaigns, and the distribution of essential medical commodities such as Ribavirin, PPEs, and thermometers are ongoing.
Other interventions include the INTEGRATE clinical trial in Ondo State, capacity-building workshops for clinicians, and community-level environmental health campaigns in high-burden areas.
The agency urged state governments to intensify community engagement, strengthen early case detection, and ensure the timely referral of suspected cases.
The NCDC also called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and initiate prompt treatment to reduce fatalities.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness endemic to Nigeria, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rats. It can also spread person-to-person, especially in healthcare settings with poor infection control.
Symptoms include fever, weakness, vomiting, and bleeding, with severe cases potentially leading to organ failure. Nigeria carries the highest global burden of the disease, with most infections reported in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.
The illness typically peaks during the dry season, between December and April, and mortality remains high among patients who seek treatment late.
The NCDC stressed that improved hygiene, early medical attention, and community awareness remain critical to curbing the outbreak and saving lives across the nation.
