The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that 127 people have died from Lassa fever so far in 2025, as the country continues to battle a continued outbreak of the viral haemorrhagic illness.
The latest situation report, covering Epidemiological Week 14 (31st March – 6th April), indicates that there have been 674 confirmed infections from a total of 4,025 suspected cases across 18 States and 93 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
According to the report, the number of newly confirmed cases slightly increased in the latest week, rising from 14 in the previous week to 15. These cases were recorded in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe States.
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The cumulative Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for the year currently stands at 18.8%, which is slightly higher than the 18.5% recorded during the same period in 2024. This uptick in mortality highlights ongoing challenges in timely diagnosis and access to treatment, according to the Agency.
The outbreak remains concentrated in three States; Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo, which together account for 71% of all confirmed cases. Ondo leads with 30%, followed by Bauchi with 25%, and Edo with 16%. The remaining 28% of cases are spread across 15 other States.
The age group most affected is 21 to 30 years, though cases range from as young as 1 to as old as 94 years, with a median age of 30. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is approximately 1:0.8.
Although the number of suspected cases had decreased compared to the same time last year, the NCDC warned that persistent challenges are undermining efforts to contain the disease. These include late presentation of symptoms, poor health-seeking behaviour, partly due to the high cost of treatment, poor sanitation, and low awareness in high-burden communities.
No new infections among healthcare workers were recorded in the latest reporting week.
To coordinate national response efforts, the NCDC has activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System involving multiple partners and stakeholders across all levels of Government and healthcare delivery.
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Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness endemic to Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. It is typically transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or faeces, though human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings.
Health authorities continue to urge Nigerians to practise good hygiene, report symptoms early, and avoid self-medication.
