By Naomi Jeremiah

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has warned that Lassa fever continues to claim lives across the country, even though new infections have slightly declined.

The agency said 206 people have died from the disease in 2025, with 1,119 confirmed cases recorded out of 9,270 suspected cases nationwide.

In its latest situation report for Epidemiological Week 51 (December 15–21, 2025), the NCDC noted that new confirmed cases dropped from 28 in week 50 to 21 in week 51. However, five deaths were recorded during the same period, raising concerns about the growing death toll.

“While the drop in new cases is encouraging, the high number of deaths remains a major concern,” the NCDC said.

The agency further revealed that most cases were concentrated in four states; Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba, which together accounted for 88 percent of all confirmed infections.

According to them, young adults aged 21–30 years were the most affected. The disease impacted Nigerians aged 1 to 96 years, with a median age of 30, and men were slightly more affected than women.

The NCDC also reported that no healthcare worker was infected in week 51, showing improved safety measures in treatment centres.

They added that the rising death toll is as a result of late hospital visits, poor health-seeking behaviour and high treatment costs, urging Nigerians to seek medical care early as the country enters the peak Lassa fever season.

The agency urged state governments to strengthen prevention efforts and called on Nigerians to seek medical help early, warning that delay and poor sanitation continue to cost lives.

Culled from: Vanguard