NCDC reports 895 Lassa fever cases and 166 deaths so far in 2025, with an 18.5% fatality rate.
Cases span 21 states, mostly in five high-burden states, as Nigerians are urged to prevent rodent exposure.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued its latest Situation Report for Week 37 (September 8–14, 2025), confirming a total of 895 Lassa fever infections and 166 related deaths recorded across the country since the start of the year.
In its weekly update, the agency reported 11 new cases in Ondo, Bauchi, Kogi, and Anambra States. This figure reflects a slight drop compared to the 13 cases reported the previous week.
The cumulative data puts the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) at 18.5 percent, an increase from the 16.9 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.
So far, Lassa fever has been confirmed in 21 states and 106 Local Government Areas (LGAs). However, about 90 percent of all reported cases are concentrated in five states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi, underscoring the continued heavy disease burden in these regions.
According to the NCDC, the age group most affected remains individuals between 21 and 30 years. Encouragingly, the latest figures show no new infections among healthcare workers during the reporting week. The agency also highlighted that both suspected and confirmed cases are on a downward trend compared with the same period last year.
Reaffirming its commitment to disease control, the NCDC urged Nigerians to remain alert and prioritize preventive measures. These include keeping homes and food storage areas free of rodents, reducing contact with rodents, and seeking medical care promptly if symptoms appear.
