The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 674 cases of Lassa fever and 127 related deaths across 18 states from January to April 6, 2025. This was disclosed in the agency’s latest situation report released on Wednesday.
According to the NCDC, the confirmed cases were drawn from 4,025 suspected cases recorded in 93 local government areas across the affected states. The current Case Fatality Rate (CFR) stands at 18.8%, a slight increase from the 18.5% recorded during the same period in 2024.
The states with the highest number of deaths include Taraba (31), Ondo (26), Edo (17), Bauchi (12), and Ebonyi (11). Other states with fatalities include Gombe (7), Plateau (5), Kogi (4), Benue (4), Nasarawa (4), Kaduna (2), and one death each in Enugu, Delta, Cross River, and Ogun.
The report noted that in week 14 alone, 15 new confirmed cases were recorded, slightly higher than the 14 reported in the previous week. The new cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe states.
“Cumulatively in week 14, 2025, 127 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 18.8 per cent,” the NCDC stated, highlighting that Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states account for 71% of all confirmed cases—Ondo (30%), Bauchi (25%), and Edo (16%).
The age group most affected is 21 to 30 years, with the median age being 30. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.8, indicating a slightly higher number of male infections.
Encouragingly, the number of suspected cases has declined compared to the same period last year, and no new infections among healthcare workers were reported during the week under review.
To strengthen the national response, the NCDC disclosed that it has activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System, working across federal, state, and local levels to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected multimammate rats, the disease’s natural reservoir.
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