Lassa Fever kills 156 Nigerians – NCDC raises alarm

Nigeria has lost 156 people to Lassa fever so far this year, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said on Tuesday.

In its latest report for Week 31 (July 28 – August 3, 2025), the agency confirmed nine new cases, up from three the previous week. The 2025 death toll is already higher than this time last year, with the fatality rate now at 18.7 per cent, compared to 17.3 per cent in 2024.

A total of 836 confirmed cases have been recorded across 21 states and 105 local government areas, out of 6,851 suspected cases.

Ondo State tops the chart with 33 per cent of all infections, followed by Bauchi (23%), Edo (17%), Taraba (14%), and Ebonyi (3%). Most patients are young adults aged 21 to 30.

NCDC blamed the rising deaths on late hospital visits, poor health-seeking habits due to treatment costs, and poor sanitation in high-risk areas.

“This increase in deaths is a clarion call for urgent and lasting action,” the agency warned, urging governments to strengthen early detection, rapid response, and community awareness.

No new infections among health workers were reported this week, but the NCDC has deployed 10 rapid response teams to affected states and supplied medical equipment to improve screening.

It has also launched online training for infection prevention and is ramping up public sensitisation in hotspot communities.

“The rising fatality rate is not just a statistic – it’s a signal. We must act decisively to prevent further loss of life,” the report stressed.