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Nigeria is struggling with an increase in deaths related to the lassa fever, since the center of Nigeria for the control and prevention of diseases (NCDC) confirmed 145 victims starting from the 25th epidemiological week in 2025, reporting a high increase in the mortality rate of the case from 17.6 percent in 2024 to 18.6 percent this year.
According to the latest report on the NCDC situation published in Abuja on Saturday, a total of 781 confirmed cases were recorded on 5,943 suspicious infections released in 101 areas of the local government in 20 states.
In particular, the virus has now reached the state of Lagos, intensifying the fears of a wider transmission in densely populated urban centers.
The report showed that five states represented most of the infections: Ondo (31%), Bauchi (24%), Edo (17%), Taraba (16%) and Ebonyi (3%). The NCDC observed that young adults aged between 21 and 30 are the most affected demographics, with males slightly more affected by females in a 1: 0.8 ratio.
In the most recent week during revision: from 16 June from 16 to 22-22-10 new confirmed cases were recorded in the states of wave and Edo, from eight in the previous week.
Despite a drop in the total number of cases compared to the previous year, the growing mortality rate has alarmed public health experts. The NCDC attributes the peak to the late presentation of cases, poor behavior in search of health and the high cost of treatment in many structures.
“No new new health infection was recorded this week”, observed the agency, “but 23 health personnel has been infected so far this year”.
To stem the epidemic, the NCDC has said that it is working closely with partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), the US centers for the control and prevention of diseases (CDC), Arima and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN).
Clinical studies integrated in the state of ondo are underway, while after the revisions of the shares (Aars) they were conducted on Ondo and Ebonyi to evaluate the effectiveness of the response.
The Agency has also intensified campaigns for the involvement of the community, awareness for the prevention of infections for doctors and environmental health interventions in the hotspots.
Ten national rapid response teams were lined up in all states affected with a “health” approach, integrating human, animal and environmental health systems.
The efforts to curb the diffusion include the launch of an e-learning platform for prevention and control of infections (IPC) and the spread of updated viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) to health institutions at national level.
Other initiatives include the active contact track, media awareness, mapping of geospace risk and webinars for the construction of national abilities for clinicians.
However, challenges such as poor hygiene and low awareness of the community continue to hinder containment efforts, especially in high burial LGA.
The NCDC urged the Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as the maintenance of adequate hygiene, avoid contact with rodents and seek early medical care when symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting or bleeding arise.
Identified for the first time in the city of Lassa, in the state of Borno, in 1969, Lass Fever is endemic in western Nigeria and Africa. It is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with urine or rodents.
The disease can vary from slight symptoms similar to an influence to serious complications such as bleeding from the mouth and nose, with about 20 % of the confirmed cases with consequent death, in particular among pregnant women and health workers. Survivors often suffer from complications, the most common is the loss of permanent hearing, which affects up to 25 % of patients.
Despite its fatal nature, the Lassa fever remains one of the most neglected tropical diseases, with limited funding for prevention, treatment and research on vaccines.
Although no vaccine is currently authorized for use, about 20 candidates are under development, with the most advanced phase clinical studies.
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