Lassa Fever: Death toll hits 221 as fatality rate rises above 2025 level - NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reports a significant rise in Lassa fever cases and a 24% fatality rate for the current year. The agency attributes the surge to late medical intervention, high treatment costs, and poor sanitation in affected regions.
Why it matters
The rising death toll and fatality rate underscore a critical public health crisis requiring urgent intervention and improved healthcare access in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the country’s Lassa fever outbreak has become deadlier this year, with 221 deaths recorded and the case fatality rate rising to 24 per cent, compared with 18.7 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025.
The agency disclosed this in its Lassa fever situation report for epidemiological week 26, released on Friday.
The report also showed that confirmed infections increased during the week, with 31 new cases recorded, up from 22 in the previous reporting week.
A total of 23 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 111 local government areas this year, highlighting the continued spread of the disease across the country.
The NCDC reported that 85 per cent of all confirmed cases originated from Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue states, while the remaining 15 per cent were reported elsewhere.
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