Nigeria has recorded 155 deaths from Lassa fever between January and 20 July 2025, according to the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The Case Fatality Rate now stands at 18.9 per cent, a rise from the 17.1 per cent recorded over the same period in 2024.
As of epidemiological Week 29, a total of 822 confirmed cases and 6,640 suspected cases have been reported in 21 states and 105 Local Government Areas.
The NCDC noted that new infections in Week 29 came from Ondo and Edo states. “The number of new confirmed cases remained the same as in epidemiological Week 28,” the agency said.
Five states accounted for 89 per cent of all confirmed infections: Ondo (32 per cent), Bauchi (23 per cent), Edo (17 per cent), Taraba (14 per cent), and Ebonyi (three per cent). The remaining 11 per cent were spread across 16 other states.
No new infections were reported among healthcare workers during the latest reporting period, and the agency noted a slight decline in overall suspected and confirmed cases compared to 2024.
The most affected age group remains those aged between 21 and 30. The median age is 30, and the male-to-female ratio stands at 1 to 0.8.
The World Health Organization describes Lassa fever as an acute viral illness endemic to West Africa. Transmission often occurs through contact with items contaminated by rodent urine or faeces. Human-to-human spread is also possible, especially in health settings where infection prevention protocols are weak.
A statement from the NCDC read, “The National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues supporting coordination of response activities at all levels.”
