The death toll from Lassa fever in Nigeria has risen to 252. This comes after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 14 new confirmed cases during epidemiological week 33.
The new infections were recorded between August 10 and August 16 in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Benue states, according to the NCDC’s latest Lassa fever situation report released in Abuja on Tuesday.
The new cases bring the cumulative number of confirmed Lassa fever infections reported in Nigeria to 1,035. The NCDC said cumulative deaths had increased from 240 in the previous week to 252. While the case fatality rate (CFR) rose from 23.5% to 24.4%. The current CFR is also higher than the 18.6% recorded in 2025, according to the agency.
Lassa Fever Cases Fluctuate
The 14 cases recorded in week 33 represent a significant increase from the four confirmed cases during epidemiological week 32.
The week 32 cases were recorded in Ondo and Edo states. At the end of week 32, Nigeria had recorded 1,021 cumulative confirmed cases and 240 deaths, with a CFR of 23.5%. However, the NCDC noted that the previous week’s figure itself represented a decline from the 17 confirmed cases recorded in week 31. This highlights fluctuations in weekly transmission.
By epidemiological week 33, 23 states had reported at least one confirmed Lassa fever case across 117 local government areas.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important because severe disease can be fatal.
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