Nigeria is experiencing a decline in Lassa fever cases, but the fatality rate remains high, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said in a report.
The centre in the report said while the number of suspected and confirmed cases has decreased compared to the same period in 2024, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) remained high.
Specifically, the centre said 145 deaths were reported with a CFR of 18.6 per cent, compared to 17.6 per cent in 2024.
The decline in cases the centre said is a positive trend, but the persistent high fatality rate is a cause for concern among health experts.
The NCDC said cases fell from 11 in week 29 to three in week 30, recorded in Edo and Ondo State.
The agency said that cumulatively, Nigeria has recorded 825 confirmed cases and 155 deaths across 21 states and 105 local government areas since the start of 2025.
The report also showed that 89 per cent of confirmed cases were concentrated in five states, Ondo 32 per cent, Bauchi 23 per cent, Edo 17 per cent, Taraba 14 per cent and Ebonyi three per cent.
The centre said that the most affected age group were between 21 and 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
The NCDC noted that while suspected and confirmed cases have decreased compared to last year, challenges persist, including late presentation at healthcare facilities, high treatment costs, poor environmental sanitation, and limited public awareness in high-burden communities.
It said response activities in the week included clinical management training, risk communication campaigns, rodent control programmes, distribution of thermometers for contact monitoring, and the deployment of rapid response teams to affected states.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as proper food storage, environmental hygiene, and early medical consultation to reduce the spread and severity of the disease.
Our correspondent reports that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats.
It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or infected medical equipment.
Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from the body openings.
Meanwhile the Federal Government has announced plans to design a sustainable pathway toward self-reliance in financing essential health services in Nigeria.
Speaking at a national workshop on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria on Monday in Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasised the urgency of strengthening local health institutions.
Our correspondent reports that the call comes in response to recent suspensions and reductions in donor funding, which have underscored the need for sustainable, country-led health systems.
“For over two decades, Nigeria has benefited from the generosity of external partners who have provided financial support, commodities, equipment, and technical expertise.
“However, the changing funding landscape highlights the need for country-led systems and full program ownership to ensure long-term impact,” Pate said.
Pate urged state governors to channel increased revenue from the current fiscal improvements into funding essential commodities and programmatic costs.
He also pointed to the importance of improved governance and coordination through mechanisms like the sector-wide approach.
According to him, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is working to improve payment systems and expand the Vulnerable Group Fund under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
He noted that pilot programmes supported by the Global Fund could lead to more affordable insurance models for HIV, TB, and malaria if proven viable.
“We’ve learned that the U.S. government will be supplying some commodities over the next three to six months, giving us a buffer.
“But we are working to step up procurement and, eventually, manufacture these items domestically,” he added.
Pate said the workshop aimed to chart a course for self-reliance in the health sector and identify options for seasonal financing and improved efficiency.
