Nigeria Records 127 Lassa Fever Deaths Across 18 States in 2025

Confirmed Cases and Fatality Rate

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 674 confirmed Lassa fever cases out of 4,025 suspected cases between January and April 6, 2025. The outbreak has affected 18 states across 93 local government areas, with a concerning Case Fatality Rate of 18.8% (127 deaths).

Most Affected States

The highest death tolls were recorded in:

• Taraba (31 deaths)
• Ondo (26 deaths)
• Edo (17 deaths)
• Bauchi (12 deaths)
• Ebonyi (11 deaths)

Current Outbreak Trends

The NCDC’s latest report shows:

• New confirmed cases increased from 14 to 15 in epidemiological week 14
• 71% of cases concentrated in Ondo (30%), Bauchi (25%), and Edo (16%)
• Most affected age group: 21-30 years (median age 30)
• Male-to-female ratio of confirmed cases: 1:0.8

About Lassa Fever

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. The primary reservoir is the multimammate rat (African rat), though other rodents can transmit the disease.

Response Efforts

The NCDC has activated the National Lassa fever multi-partner Incident Management System to coordinate response activities nationwide. While suspected cases have decreased compared to 2024, the CFR remains higher than last year’s 18.5%.

Source: Punch Newspapers