Lassa Fever: Agency Intensifies Efforts To Combat Spread As Fatality Rate Surges

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has said that it is currently in collaboration with partners, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), ALIMA, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and others in a fight to eradicate Lassa fever in Nigeria.

The agency said the collaborations have intensified multi-sectoral response efforts to combat the spread of Lassa fever, following the latest situation report of 145 deaths from Lassa fever as of 2025 Epidemiological Week 25, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.6 per cent.

The NCDC disclosing this via its official website on Saturday in Abuja, said the week 25 figure marks an increase from 17.6 per cent reported for the same period in 2024.

The report, which covered the week of June 16–22, revealed that 781 confirmed cases were reported out of 5,943 suspected cases across 20 states and 101 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

In the current reporting week, 10 new confirmed cases were reported in Ondo and Edo states with a slight increase from the eight cases recorded the previous week.

According to NCDC, 91 per cent of all confirmed cases in 2025 were reported from five states of Ondo (31%), Bauchi (24%), Edo (17%), Taraba (16%) and Ebonyi (3%).

It added that the disease continues to affect young adults predominantly, within the 21 to 30 age group most impacted. Males were slightly more affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.

The Nigerian public health agency, said that despite a decline in the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases compared to 2024, the rise in CFR is raising concerns among health experts.

It further highlighted late presentation of cases, high treatment costs, and poor health-seeking behaviour as contributing factors to the increased fatality.

It also noted that no new infections among health workers were recorded in the reporting week, though 23 healthcare workers have been affected cumulatively this year.

However, as part of the agency’s efforts to combat the spread, it stated that Integrate clinical trials are currently ongoing in Ondo State, with After Action Reviews (AARs) conducted in both Ondo and Ebonyi to evaluate the response to the outbreak.

It also said that clinician sensitisation, community engagement activities and environmental response campaigns have been carried out in identified hotspot areas.

Additionally, the agency said that it has deployed 10 national rapid response teams to various states, adopting a one health approach to disease control.

To further strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC), the agency launched an IPC e-learning platform and distributed updated Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) guidelines to health facilities across the country.

The NCDC also highlighted other efforts including active contact tracing, surveillance, media engagement and geospatial risk mapping, alongside regular webinars for clinicians and capacity-building sessions nationwide.

It however, identified key challenges including poor environmental sanitation and low community awareness, particularly in high-burden LGAs, adding that sustained efforts are needed to curb the fatality rate, ensure early detection, and improve public health outcomes.

The Nigerian public health agency further advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with rodents, and seek medical help promptly when experiencing symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding.