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Nigeria has reported 145 fatalities attributed to Lassa fever, which corresponds to a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.6 percent.
This information was released in a recent report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Saturday in Abuja.
The NCDC indicated that this represents an uptick from the 17.6 percent CFR noted during the same period in 2024.
The report, which covers the week from June 16 to June 22, showed that there were 781 confirmed cases out of 5,943 suspected cases across 20 states and 101 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
During the current reporting week, 10 new confirmed cases emerged in Ondo and Edo States, slightly up from the eight cases documented the week before.
The NCDC noted that 91 percent of all confirmed cases in 2025 were concentrated in just five states: Ondo (31%), Bauchi (24%), Edo (17%), Taraba (16%), and Ebonyi (3%).
The disease is primarily affecting young adults, especially those in the 21-30 age range, with males being affected more, resulting in a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
Despite a decrease in the total count of suspected and confirmed cases compared to 2024, health experts are concerned about the increased CFR. The agency cited delayed presentation of cases, high treatment costs, and poor health-seeking behaviors as factors contributing to the rising fatality rate.
There were no new infections reported among healthcare workers during the reporting week, although cumulatively this year, 23 healthcare workers have been affected.
The NCDC shared that it is collaborating with various partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), among others, to enhance multi-sectoral responses to the Lassa fever outbreak.
These collaborative efforts are also supporting ongoing INTEGRATE clinical trials in Ondo State, with After Action Reviews (AARs) conducted in both Ondo and Ebonyi States to assess the outbreak response. The agency has engaged in clinician awareness programs, community outreach, and environmental intervention campaigns in areas identified as hotspots.
The NCDC has mobilized 10 national rapid response teams to different states, employing a One Health strategy for disease management. To bolster infection prevention and control measures, the agency has introduced an IPC e-learning platform and distributed updated Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) guidelines to health facilities nationwide.
Additional initiatives include active contact tracing, surveillance, media outreach, and geospatial risk mapping, alongside regular webinars for healthcare professionals and capacity-building opportunities across the country.
The NCDC has identified significant barriers such as inadequate environmental hygiene and low community awareness, especially in high-burden LGAs. It also emphasized the need for persistent efforts to mitigate the fatality rate, ensure early detection, and enhance public health outcomes.
The NCDC encouraged Nigerians to practice good hygiene, avoid contact with rodents, and promptly seek medical assistance when experiencing symptoms like fever, sore throat, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding.
Rocketparrot News reports that Lassa fever, first identified in 1969 in Lassa, Borno State, is endemic in Nigeria and leads to annual outbreaks.
The symptoms can range from mild fever and joint pain to severe bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract, with a fatality rate of around 20 percent when treatment is delayed.
In West Africa, hundreds of thousands are affected annually, presenting symptoms like fever and vomiting, with severe cases leading to bleeding.
A concerning complication is hearing loss, which impacts about 25 percent of survivors. Although the estimated fatality rate is one percent, it can significantly rise during outbreaks, particularly affecting pregnant women and healthcare practitioners.
Despite its considerable health impact, Lassa fever is often overlooked, with insufficient resources dedicated to its prevention and treatment.
Currently, there are no licensed vaccines available, although approximately 20 candidates are under development, with the most advanced ones in Phase IIa clinical trials.
