The death toll from Nigeria’s ongoing Lassa fever outbreak has climbed to 127 since January, according to data released Tuesday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The country has confirmed 674 infections from a pool of 4,025 suspected cases recorded since the beginning of the year. The hemorrhagic virus, endemic to parts of West Africa, has now spread to 18 of Nigeria’s 36 states, with the southern states of Ondo and Edo, alongside Bauchi in the north, accounting for more than 70 percent of the confirmed cases.
Health authorities report a case fatality rate of 18.8/percent—slightly higher than the 18.5/percent recorded during the same period last year—raising concerns about the effectiveness of ongoing containment strategies.
The NCDC noted that the majority of infections have been recorded among individuals aged 21 to 30, with the median age of patients standing at 30. Men are being disproportionately affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 to 0.8, suggesting gendered differences in exposure or vulnerability.
Several challenges continue to hamper effective response. The agency cited delayed healthcare seeking, high treatment costs in some areas, and low public awareness in high-burden communities. In response, the government has activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate efforts nationwide, including response logistics, clinical care, and community engagement.
Lassa fever, which is transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by urine or feces of infected rodents, remains a recurring public health threat. The virus can also be spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, especially in healthcare settings without adequate protective equipment.
In 2024, Nigeria reported 214 deaths from the virus. With the current figures rising steadily, public health officials are urging the public to adopt preventive measures, seek early medical attention, and maintain proper hygiene standards to reduce further spread.