NCDC Report: Lassa fever killed 176 in 10 months

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the death toll from Lassa fever in the past 10 months has climbed to 176, representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.4 per cent.

This is higher than the 16.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes Lassa fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is spread to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.

The disease is endemic in West Africa and is known to occur in Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

According to the NCDC’s latest epidemiological report for Week 43, a total of 955 confirmed cases have been recorded across 21 States and 102 Local Government Areas (LGAs) so far this year.

The report revealed that 88 per cent of all confirmed infections were recorded in just four states of Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Taraba while the remaining 12% came from 17 other States.

Ondo State alone accounted for 37% of the total cases, followed by Bauchi (21 %), Edo (17%), and Taraba (13%), the agency said.

It noted that the number of suspected and confirmed cases declined compared to the same period last year, though the fatality rate has worsened.

“In Week 43, the number of new confirmed cases rose slightly from nine in Week 42 to eleven, all reported in Ondo State,” the report stated.

The agency added that the predominant age group affected remains between 21 and 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 to 0.8.

While no new infections were reported among healthcare workers during the week, the NCDC said the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate national response efforts.

The report also identified key challenges in managing the outbreak, including late presentation of patients leading to higher fatality rates, poor health-seeking behaviour due to the cost of treatment, inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden areas, and limited community awareness.

The NCDC urged state governments to sustain year-round public sensitisation on Lassa fever prevention and advised healthcare professionals to maintain a high index of suspicion and ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment.

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It also reaffirmed its commitment, along with partners, to strengthening state capacity for timely detection and response.