The death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria continues to rise. According to a statement by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the number of people who have lost their lives due to the disease in the country since January has risen to 221.
The NCDC reported that the outbreak continues to spread across 111 local government areas in 23 states. In the last week alone, 31 more cases of Lassa fever were detected.
The statement noted that the case fatality rate for Lassa fever has increased compared to the same period last year. Accordingly, the rate, which was 18.7 percent in the same period of 2025, has risen to 24 percent this year.
It was noted that the disease most affects people in the 21-30 age group, and cases have been observed in individuals ranging from 1 to 93 years old.
HOW IS LASSA FEVER TRANSMITTED?
In 2025, 190 people lost their lives due to the Lassa virus in Nigeria. The country's government declared a state of emergency due to Lassa fever on January 23, 2019.
Lassa fever was first encountered in Nigeria in 1969 in the northeastern state of Borno. The disease can also be seen in African countries such as Mali, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Lassa fever, which can be transmitted through contact with rat excreta, can also be passed from human to human and can lead to fatal hemorrhagic fever. Authorities are warning the public to avoid contact with rats and other rodents.
News Source: 12punto
