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Disease transmission

Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria Worsens, Raises Death Toll to 166

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As of this year, the death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has risen to 166, with 895 confirmed cases reported across 106 local government areas in 21 states. This surge in deaths is attributed to late presentation and poor health-seeking behavior, as well as the high cost of treatment. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has warned that the spread of the disease is fueled by weak awareness, delayed treatment, and poor sanitation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has risen to 166 since the beginning of this year, with 895 confirmed cases reported.
  • The case fatality rate stands at 18.5 percent, higher than the 16.9 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.
  • The worst-hit states are Edo, Ebonyi, and Ondo in the south, and Bauchi and Taraba in the north, accounting for more than 90 percent of all confirmed cases.
  • Ondo alone represents one-third of the total confirmed cases, with 235 cases reported as of September 2025.
  • A multi-sectoral incident management system has been activated to coordinate a nationwide response.
  • Lassa fever is primarily transmitted through food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or feces, and human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with the blood, saliva, urine, or excreta of infected individuals.
  • The NCDC attributed the rise in deaths to "late presentation and poor health-seeking behavior, often linked to the high cost of treatment."

Statistics:

  • 895 confirmed cases of Lassa fever reported between January and September 2025.
  • 166 deaths recorded since the beginning of this year.
  • Case fatality rate: 18.5 percent (as of the latest update).
  • Total number of states affected: 21.
  • Number of local government areas affected: 106.
  • Percentage of confirmed cases in Ondo: 33.3 percent (235 cases reported).
  • Percentage of confirmed cases in the worst-hit states (Edo, Ebonyi, Ondo, Bauchi, and Taraba): 92.2 percent.

Sources:

  • The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
  • Xinhua via COMTEX.
  • (Exact source format: XINHUA NEW AGENCY, Copyright 2025 COMTEX_469224205/2084/2025-10-02T13:11:43).

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