The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 145 deaths from Lassa fever so far in 2025, as the country continues to grapple with the viral hemorrhagic disease across 18 states.
According to the latest situation report released on Friday for epidemiological week 24 (June 9–15), Nigeria has recorded 766 confirmed cases from a total of 5,678 suspected infections.
The case fatality rate has risen to 18.9 percent, up from 17.6 percent during the same period in 2024.
The most affected states are Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi, which together account for 91 percent of confirmed cases. Ondo State alone contributes 31 percent, making it the epicentre of the current outbreak.
Despite a slight drop in newly confirmed cases—down to eight from 11 in the previous week—the NCDC has expressed concern over the persistently high fatality rate. The agency attributes this to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, and unsanitary living conditions in high-burden communities.
To curb the spread, the NCDC has deployed Rapid Response Teams to 10 states and intensified public health measures including risk communication, environmental sanitation campaigns, and training of healthcare workers in affected areas.
The agency has also scaled down its Incident Management System to alert mode while integrating Lassa fever messaging into broader disease awareness campaigns.
The public is urged to take preventive measures seriously, such as avoiding contact with rodents and maintaining proper hygiene. The NCDC also encourages early reporting of symptoms like fever, headache, and unexplained bleeding, and advises seeking care at designated treatment centres.
“Nigerians are encouraged to follow NCDC advisories and make use of the toll-free line 6232 for inquiries,” the agency said.
Lassa fever is primarily transmitted through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or unsafe medical practices.
Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, and muscle pain. Severe cases can result in internal or external bleeding and death.
