- 506 Lassa fever cases and 95 deaths recorded in the first 8 weeks of 2025; 54 new cases in week 8.
- Case fatality rate remains at 18.8%, with 73% of cases in Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo, mostly affecting 21-30-year-olds.
- National IMS activated to coordinate response; one healthcare worker infected in week 8.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recorded 506 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 95 deaths in the first eight weeks of 2025.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the epidemiological report for week eight, new confirmed cases increased from 38 to 54 compared to the previous week, with cases reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi states.
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The case fatality rate remains at 18.8 percent, unchanged from 2024. Confirmed cases have now been recorded in 12 states, affecting 70 Local Government Areas.
The report shows that 73 percent of all confirmed cases are from three states—Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo—with Ondo accounting for 32 percent, Bauchi 24 percent, and Edo 17 percent of the cases.
Lassa fever predominantly affects individuals aged 21 to 30, with a median age of 30, and the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
Although there has been a decline in suspected cases compared to the same period in 2024, one new healthcare worker was infected in week eight, highlighting the ongoing risk to frontline medical personnel.
To coordinate response activities at all levels, the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) has been activated.
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Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. The disease is endemic in Nigeria, with seasonal outbreaks occurring mainly during the dry season.
The NCDC continues to urge citizens to maintain proper hygiene and take necessary precautions to prevent further spread.
