The number of persons who have died from Lassa fever in Nigeria has risen to 168, from 166, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, has disclosed.
The epidemiological report released by the NCDC on Friday, explained that from January 1 to September 21, the Case Fatality Rate now stands at 18.5 per cent, up from 16.9 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
The report said that as of epidemiological Week 38, Nigeria has reported a total of 7,792 suspected cases and 906 confirmed cases across 21 states and 106 Local Government Areas.
The World Health Organisation has explained that Lassa fever is an acute viral illness caused by the Lassa virus, lamenting that it is endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone,
It noted that Lassa fever probably exists in other West African countries as well.
According to the global health body, “Lassa virus is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. Person-to-person transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures.”
According to the NCDC, in Week 38, the number of new confirmed cases remained the same as in Week 37 of 2025, with 11 reported cases, saying that these were from Ondo, Edo, and Taraba States.
Cumulatively, the report stated that as of Week 38, 2025, 168 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.5 per cent, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (16.9 per cent).
In total for 2025, the report explained that 21 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 106 Local Government Areas.
It said that a significant majority—90 per cent—of confirmed cases were reported from five states, such as Ondo (33 per cent), Bauchi (23 per cent), Edo (18 per cent), Taraba (13 per cent), and Ebonyi (three per cent), while the remaining 10 per cent were spread across 16 other states.
It noted that the predominant age group affected is 21–30 years (range: 1–96 years; median age: 30 years) as the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
The report explained that no new healthcare workers were affected during the reporting week, and the number of suspected and confirmed cases has decreased compared to the same period in 2024.
The NCDC’s multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities at all levels.
Death toll from Lassa fever hits 168 at week 38 -NCDC reveals