An ecologist extracts a sample of blood from a Mastomys Natalensis rodent in the village of Jormu in southeastern Sierra Leone February 8, 2011. Lassa fever, named after the Nigerian town where it was first identified in 1969, is among a U.S. list of "category A" diseases -- deemed to have the potential for major public health impact -- alongside anthrax and botulism. The disease is carried by the Mastomys Natalensis rodent, found across sub-Saharan Africa and often eaten as a source of protein. It infects an estimated 300,000-500,000 people each year, and kills about 5,000. Picture taken February 8, 2011. To match Reuters-Feature BIOTERROR-AFRICA/ REUTERS/Simon Akam (SIERRA LEONE - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY ANIMALS) - GM1E72F07HC01
Oct. 22, 2025
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says 172 deaths have been recorded from Lassa fever in 21 states.
In its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 40 (Sept. 29–Oct. 5), the agency said 924 confirmed cases and 8,041 suspected cases had been reported from 106 Local Government Areas.
It said Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi accounted for 90 per cent of all confirmed cases, with Ondo alone responsible for 35 per cent.
The centre said that the report indicated that confirmed cases rose from four in Week 39 to 13 in Week 40, all recorded in Ondo State.
The NCDC noted that the predominant age group affected was 21 to 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8, adding that no new healthcare worker infection was reported during the week under review.
It attributed the high fatality rate to the late presentation of cases and poor health-seeking behaviour among residents of high-burden communities.
It also listed poor environmental sanitation and low awareness as factors driving infections.
To strengthen response efforts, the NCDC said it had deployed 10 national rapid response teams to affected states using a One Health approach.
It added that ongoing activities include training of healthcare workers, risk communication campaigns and the distribution of response commodities such as Ribavirin, PPEs, and thermometers to treatment centres.
According to it, other interventions include the ongoing INTEGRATE clinical trial in Ondo State, capacity-building workshops for clinicians, and environmental health campaigns in high-burden states.
The NCDC urged states to strengthen community engagement on prevention and improve early case detection and referral.
It also called on healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever and initiate timely treatment to reduce deaths.
Nigeria records the highest global burden, with most cases from Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.
It peaks in the dry season “December–April” and has a high fatality rate, especially when patients present late.
