The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that Lassa fever has killed 138 people across the country between January and now, marking a case fatality rate of 19.3 percent—an increase from 18.0 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.
According to the agency’s latest situation report published on its official website, a total of 717 confirmed cases have been documented as of Epidemiological Week 18. In the current week alone, four states—Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Benue—reported new infections.
Despite a slight drop in new cases from 11 to 10 in the past week, the NCDC described the overall death toll as deeply concerning. The report highlighted that 71 percent of all confirmed cases were concentrated in three states: Ondo (30%), Bauchi (25%), and Taraba (16%), indicating persistent transmission hotspots.
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The most affected demographic group is aged 21–30 years, with slightly more males than females infected, at a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. Encouragingly, no healthcare worker was infected in the latest week, although 22 have contracted the disease since the beginning of the year.
To contain the outbreak, the NCDC said it has activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System and deployed 10 Rapid Response Teams to affected states. It has also stepped up contact tracing, community awareness campaigns, and distribution of critical supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE), ribavirin, disinfectants, and body bags.
These efforts are being supported by international partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and Georgetown University.
In addition, the country has conducted several webinars, training sessions, and surveillance activities to strengthen the response.
However, the NCDC noted that its efforts are being hindered by several challenges, including late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behavior, low public awareness in high-risk areas, and poor environmental sanitation—which contributes to the spread of the disease.
The agency continues to urge Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms appear.
 has confirmed that Lassa fever has killed 138 people across the country between January and now, marking a case fatality rate of 19.3 percent—an increase from 18.0 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.){kind=link}