The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that the death toll from Lassa fever in the country has risen to 168.
The agency disclosed this figure in its latest epidemiological report released on Friday, Sep
In its latest epidemiological report, the agency disclosed that the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) now stands at 18.5 per cent, compared to 16.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
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From January 1 to Week 38 of 2025, Nigeria recorded 7,792 suspected cases and 906 confirmed cases of the viral disease across 21 states and 106 Local Government Areas.
According to the NCDC, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi remain the worst-hit states, with Ondo alone accounting for 33 per cent of confirmed cases.
“Cumulatively, 90 per cent of confirmed cases have been reported from these five states, while the remaining 10 per cent were spread across 16 other states,” the report stated.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) explained that Lassa fever is an acute viral illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
The agency also warned that person-to-person transmission remains a threat in healthcare facilities without proper infection control measures.
Commenting on the development, the NCDC said, “The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement but also a moral imperative.
“Eliminating these fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent.”
The report further noted that the most affected age group remains between 21 and 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. It added that no new healthcare workers were infected in Week 38.
The NCDC said its multi-sectoral Technical Working Group is “actively coordinating response activities at all levels to reduce the spread and impact of the outbreak.”
