Nigeria has recorded 145 deaths from Lassa fever as of Epidemiological Week 25 of 2025, with the case fatality rate (CFR) rising to 18.6%, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The figure, published in the NCDC’s latest situation report on Saturday via its official website, represents an increase from the 17.6% fatality rate recorded during the same period in 2024.
The report, covering June 16–22, shows that 781 confirmed cases were reported out of 5,943 suspected cases across 20 states and 101 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
In the current reporting week, 10 new confirmed cases were recorded in Ondo and Edo States—up slightly from the eight reported the previous week.
The NCDC revealed that 91% of confirmed cases in 2025 originated from five states: Ondo (31%), Bauchi (24%), Edo (17%), Taraba (16%), and Ebonyi (3%).
The disease continues to disproportionately affect young adults, particularly those aged 21 to 30. Males were slightly more affected than females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
Despite a general decline in suspected and confirmed cases compared to last year, the increased CFR has raised concerns among public health experts. Contributing factors include delayed presentation at healthcare facilities, high treatment costs, and poor health-seeking behaviours.
The report noted that no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded in the reporting week, although 23 healthcare workers have been affected cumulatively in 2025.
The NCDC also highlighted ongoing collaborations with international partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), ALIMA, and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), among others.
These partnerships have bolstered multi-sectoral response efforts. Clinical trials are currently underway in Ondo State, while After-Action Reviews (AARs) have been conducted in Ondo and Ebonyi to assess outbreak response effectiveness.
Community sensitisation, environmental hygiene campaigns, and targeted clinician training have also been implemented in identified hotspot areas.
To further strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC), the NCDC has launched an IPC e-learning platform and distributed updated Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) guidelines to health facilities nationwide.
The agency has also deployed 10 national rapid response teams, leveraging a One Health approach to disease control. Other efforts include active contact tracing, media engagement, surveillance, geospatial risk mapping, and regular webinars for clinicians and healthcare workers.
Key challenges identified by the NCDC include poor environmental sanitation and low community awareness—particularly in high-burden LGAs.
The agency emphasised the urgent need for continued efforts to reduce the CFR, promote early diagnosis, and improve public health outcomes.
Nigerians were advised to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with rodents, and seek medical attention promptly when experiencing symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding.
Lassa fever, first identified in 1969 in Lassa town, Borno State, remains endemic in Nigeria, with seasonal outbreaks.
Symptoms can range from mild fever and joint pain to severe internal bleeding. The disease is fatal in about 20% of cases when not treated early.
Hundreds of thousands across West Africa are infected annually. Among survivors, approximately 25% suffer from hearing loss—one of the disease’s most troubling long-term complications.
Despite its public health impact, Lassa fever remains one of the most neglected diseases, with limited resources allocated to prevention and treatment.
Currently, no licensed vaccines exist, though about 20 candidates are under development, with the most advanced in Phase IIa clinical trials.
