Nigeria records 166 deaths as Lassa fever fatality rate rises above 2024 rate – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported that Nigeria has recorded 166 deaths from Lassa fever so far in 2025. This grim statistic has pushed the case fatality rate (CFR) to a level higher than that recorded in 2024, despite a decline in the overall number of new cases.

According to the latest NCDC situation reports for 2025, the cumulative number of deaths from Lassa fever has reached 166, with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.5%, which is higher than the 17.1% recorded during the same period in 2024. The data indicates that the disease continues to pose a significant public health threat, particularly with its high mortality rate.¹

Key highlights from the NCDC report:

• Rising Fatality Rate: The most concerning aspect of the current outbreak is the persistently high fatality rate.² The NCDC attributes this to several factors, including the late presentation of cases at healthcare facilities, poor health-seeking behavior due to the high cost of treatment, and a general lack of public awareness in high-burden communities.³
• Geographical Spread: The outbreak has been confirmed in 21 states and 106 local government areas.⁴ However, a majority of the confirmed cases, approximately 90%, are concentrated in five states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi.⁵
• Demographics: The predominant age group affected by the disease is young adults between 21 and 30 years old.⁶ The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.⁷
• Response Efforts: In response to the outbreak, the NCDC and its partners have activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate response activities.⁸ These efforts include deploying rapid response teams to affected states, conducting clinical management training for health workers, and launching public risk communication campaigns.⁹

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or feces of infected rats.¹⁰ It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids.¹¹ The NCDC continues to urge Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as proper food storage, good environmental hygiene, and early medical consultation at the first sign of symptoms, which can include fever, sore throat, and headache.¹²