The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 506 cases of Lassa fever and 95 deaths from a total of 2,492 suspected cases as of February 23, 2025.
According to the agency’s latest situation report for week eight, the viral hemorrhagic fever has spread to 12 states and 70 local government areas, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.8 percent.
The states with confirmed cases include Ondo (160), Bauchi (122), Edo (88), Taraba (80), Ebonyi (15), Kogi (14), Gombe (11), Plateau (seven), Benue (five), Nasarawa (two), Delta (one), and Cross River (one).
The report indicated that new infections increased from 38 cases in week seven to 54 in week eight, with fresh cases recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi.
Lassa fever, which is prevalent during Nigeria’s dry season, is a zoonotic disease transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats.
The NCDC noted that 73 percent of the confirmed cases were reported from three states: Ondo (32 percent), Bauchi (24 percent), and Edo (17 percent). The most affected age group is between 21 and 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
The number of suspected cases in 2025 has declined compared to the same period in 2024. However, one new healthcare worker was infected in week eight.
To manage the outbreak, the NCDC has activated a national multi-sectoral Incident Management System, coordinating response efforts at all levels.
Health authorities continue to urge Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid rodent-infested areas, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and vomiting.
