Lassa Fever Claims 195 Lives in 2025: NCDC Report Reveals Rising Fatality Rate and Key Challenges

By Abujah Racheal

Abuja, Dec. 19, 2025 (NAN) – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a sobering toll for 2025: Lassa fever has claimed 195 lives across 21 states by Epidemiological Week 49. This represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.2%, a concerning increase from the 16.5% CFR recorded during the same period in 2024.

The latest NCDC Situation Report for Epi Week 49 (Dec. 1-7, 2025) details a persistent threat. During that single week, 33 new confirmed cases and eight deaths were recorded, a rise from the 24 cases reported in the previous week. Cumulatively for 2025, Nigeria has recorded 9,041 suspected cases, 1,069 confirmed cases, and 195 deaths.

A critical analysis of the data reveals a concentrated epidemic. A staggering 89% of all confirmed cases originate from just four states: Ondo (36%), Edo (24%), Bauchi (12%), and Taraba (12%). This geographic clustering points to specific ecological and behavioral risk factors in these regions, such as rodent habitat and food storage practices. While the number of affected states (21) and Local Government Areas (103) has decreased compared to 2024, the intensity of transmission in these core states remains severe.

The rising fatality rate, despite a decline in overall cases, is identified by the NCDC as a direct consequence of late presentation and poor health-seeking behaviour. Lassa fever’s early symptoms—fever, headache, malaise—are often mistaken for malaria or typhoid, leading to dangerous delays in diagnosis and treatment. The antiviral drug Ribavirin is most effective when administered early in the course of the illness.

The demographic most affected are young adults aged 21-30, with a median age of 30. This likely reflects the demographic group involved in agricultural activities, food handling, or living conditions that increase exposure to the primary vector: the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis).

On the response front, the National Lassa Fever Multi-sectoral Technical Working Group, with partners like WHO and US CDC, is coordinating interventions. These include deploying Rapid Response Teams, strengthening infection prevention control (IPC), and community engagement. A significant development is the commencement of the INTEGRATE trial, which aims to generate robust evidence on treatment protocols. Encouragingly, no healthcare workers were infected in the reporting week, a testament to improved IPC, though 24 have been infected cumulatively in 2025.

However, the NCDC outlines formidable challenges: high treatment costs, poor environmental sanitation, and low awareness in high-burden communities. These factors create a vicious cycle where poverty and lack of education fuel transmission and hinder timely care.

The agency’s call to action is clear: prevention is paramount. Year-round community engagement—focusing on rodent-proofing homes, safe food storage, and proper sanitation—is crucial. Healthcare workers must maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, especially in endemic zones. Ultimately, reducing mortality requires a dual strategy: empowering communities to prevent infection and strengthening the health system to ensure rapid diagnosis and affordable, accessible treatment.

Lassa fever, first identified in Nigeria in 1969, remains a potent reminder of the nexus between environmental health, animal reservoirs, and human vulnerability. Curbing its toll requires moving beyond seasonal outbreak response to sustained, integrated public health investment.

(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AIR/AMM

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru