No fewer than 152 Nigerians have lost their lives to Lassa fever between January and July 2025, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The agency, in its latest situation report released on Monday, said the country recorded 811 confirmed infections out of 6,520 suspected cases as of Epidemiological Week 28.
The development puts the case fatality rate at 18.7 percent—an increase from the 17.3 percent recorded in the same period in 2024.
According to the report, the confirmed cases were recorded in 21 states and 105 local government areas, with Ondo, Edo, and Benue states reporting new infections in the most recent week.
“Cumulatively, 152 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.7 percent, higher than the 17.3 percent recorded for the same period in 2024,” the report stated.
The NCDC added that five states accounted for 89 percent of the total confirmed cases. Ondo topped the chart with 32 percent, followed by Bauchi (23%), Edo (17%), Taraba (14%), and Ebonyi (3%).
The remaining 11 percent of confirmed infections were spread across 16 other states.
Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, remains a major public health threat in Nigeria, especially during the dry season when the virus tends to peak.
The NCDC urged state governments and health workers to remain vigilant and report suspected cases promptly to prevent further spread.
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