The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that 176 people have died of Lassa fever in Nigeria so far this year.
According to the latest epidemiological report released by the NCDC, as of Epidemiological Week 43, 2025, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) has risen to 18.4 per cent, up from 16.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
Lassa fever, described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. WHO notes that the disease is endemic in the rodent population across parts of West Africa.
As of Week 43, Nigeria has reported a total of 955 confirmed cases, with 21 states recording at least one confirmed case across 102 local government areas.
The report highlighted that in Week 43, the number of new confirmed cases rose from nine in Week 42 to 11, all reported in Ondo State.
It stated, “Cumulatively, as of Week 43, 2025, 176 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.4 per cent, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (16.6 per cent).”
Overall, the NCDC reported that 88 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases came from four states — Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Taraba — while the remaining 12 per cent were reported from 17 other states.
