The Nigerian government announced that the nation has documented 1,148 confirmed cases and 215 deaths from Lassa fever across 22 states from the first to the last week of 2025.
This information was disclosed in the most recent Lassa Fever Situation Report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The data indicates a reduction in the number of confirmed cases in 2025 compared to 1,309 cases reported during the equivalent timeframe in 2024.
Conversely, the number of deaths increased, with the case fatality rate (CFR) escalating to 18.7 percent in 2025, higher than the 16.3 percent observed in 2024.
From the beginning of the year to the end of 2025, the report identified a total of 215 fatalities, with a CFR of 18.7 percent, in contrast to 214 deaths and a CFR of 16.3 percent during the same period in 2024.
The total count of suspected cases in 2025 was reported at 9,389, marking a decline from 10,098 in 2024.
According to the findings, the tally of newly confirmed cases in the last week of 2025 rose from 21 in the preceding week to 27.
Reported cases of infection were noted in Bauchi, Ondo, Ebonyi, Taraba, and Nasarawa states during this period.
Notably, no healthcare workers were affected during the reporting week.
Additional details from the report indicate that 22 states experienced at least one confirmed case across 107 local government areas throughout 2025.
Of all confirmed cases of Lassa fever, 89 percent originated from Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Edo states.
The NCDC highlighted that the age group most impacted comprises individuals aged 21–30, with a range of cases from one to 96 years and a median age of 30.
The ratio of male to female among confirmed cases stood at 1:0.8, indicating slightly higher rates of infection in males.
Regarding challenges, the NCDC identified several critical issues contributing to the elevated fatality rate, including late presentation of cases, low health-seeking behavior due to high treatment costs, inadequate environmental hygiene, and a lack of awareness in communities heavily burdened by the disease.
The NCDC urged state governments to enhance continuous community engagement focused on Lassa fever prevention, called for healthcare personnel to maintain a heightened index of suspicion and ensure timely referrals and treatments, and stressed the necessity for strengthened state capabilities to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to outbreaks.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which primarily transmits to humans through contact with food or household items tainted with the urine or feces of infected rodents. It can also spread from person to person via bodily fluids.
The disease often commences with symptoms such as fever, malaise, and headaches but can advance to more severe manifestations, including bleeding, respiratory distress, swelling, and organ failure.
Early detection and immediate treatment with Ribavirin are crucial for enhancing survival rates.
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