The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has said 176 people have died from Lassa fever this year.
The agency said the case fatality rate, CFR, is now 18.4 percent, up from 16.6 percent in the same period in 2024.
According to the NCDC’s 43rd-week epidemiology report, most cases came from four states. Ondo accounted for 37 percent of infections, Bauchi 21 percent, Edo 17 percent, and Taraba 13 percent. The remaining 12 percent of cases were reported across 17 other states.
The agency noted that the number of suspected and confirmed cases has fallen slightly compared with last year. However, the high fatality rate remains a concern. No new healthcare worker was affected in the latest week.
The NCDC said the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral technical working group, TWG, continues to coordinate response efforts. The report also flagged key challenges, including late hospital visits, high treatment costs, poor sanitation, and low community awareness in high-burden areas.
The agency urged states to strengthen community engagement on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year. Healthcare workers were advised to maintain high suspicion and ensure early referrals and treatment.
The NCDC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting states in preventing and responding promptly to outbreaks.
