The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has stated that Lassa fever claimed 138 lives between January 2025, till date.
The NCDC latest situation report shared via its official website indicated that the situation represented a 19.3 per cent case fatality rate.
According to the report, the figure is a rise from the 18.0 per cent recorded within the same period in 2024.
The report also said that a total of 717 confirmed cases have been recorded as of Epi Week 18, with four new states (Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Benue) reporting cases in the current week alone.
The health agency remarked that while the number of new confirmed cases slightly decreased from 11 to 10 in the past week, the overall death toll remained alarming.
The NCDC further stated that no healthcare worker was infected in the current week, though 22 healthcare workers have been affected so far this year.
It attributed the spread of the disease to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behavior, and low awareness levels in high-burden areas.
The agancy also said poor environmental sanitation contributed to the spread of the disease.
The NCDC advised Nigerians to maintain hygiene, avoid contact with rodents and their secretions and report symptoms early.
