Lassa fever has claimed 168 lives in Nigeria, up from 166, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The latest epidemiological report, released on Friday, shows the case‑fatality rate (CFR) has risen to 18.5 percent, compared with 16.9 percent for the same period in 2024. As of 21 September, the country has recorded 7,792 suspected cases and 906 confirmed cases across 21 states and 106 local government areas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes Lassa fever as an acute viral illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is endemic in several West African nations, including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone. The virus is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or feces, although person‑to‑person spread can occur, especially in healthcare settings lacking proper infection‑prevention measures.
In Week 38, the number of new confirmed cases remained steady, with 11 cases reported from Ondo, Edo and Taraba states. Overall, 90 percent of confirmed cases have come from five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi. The most affected age group is 21‑30 years, and the male‑to‑female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8. No new healthcare workers were infected during the reporting week, and both suspected and confirmed case numbers are lower than the same period in 2024.
The NCDC’s multi‑partner, multi‑sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities at all levels, focusing on reducing transmission and managing the outbreak.
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