Fatality increases as Nigeria records 145 new deaths from Lassa fever
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has disclosed that the country recorded 145 Lassa fever-related deaths in its Epidemiological Week 25.
The government agency also disclosed on its website on Saturday that it recorded a case fatality rate, CFR, of 18.6 per cent, marking an increase from 17.6 per cent reported for the same period in 2024.
The report, which covered week 16–22 of June, revealed that there were 781 confirmed cases out of the suspected 5,943 reported in 20 states and 101 Local Government Areas, LGAs.
In the current reporting week, 10 new confirmed cases were reported in Ondo and Edo States, 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 just five states: Ondo (31%), Bauchi (24%), Edo (17%), Taraba (16%), and Ebonyi (3%).
It said that the disease continues to affect young adults predominantly, with the 21–30 age group most impacted. Males were slightly more affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
Highlighting late presentation, high treatment costs, and poor health-seeking behaviour as contributing factors to the increased fatality rates, the NCDC said no new infections among health workers were recorded in the reporting week.
Fatality increases as Nigeria records 145 new deaths from Lassa fever
