The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 143 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, with 22 deaths, between December 30, 2024, and January 12, 2025.
The cases were spread across seven states and 32 local government areas, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 15.4%. The states affected include Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe, where the majority of the fatalities occurred.
According to the NCDC’s Lassa fever situation report, the deaths were as follows: six in Ondo, five in Edo, two in Bauchi, six in Taraba, two in Ebonyi, and one in Gombe.
Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, is caused by the Lassa virus, which is typically transmitted through exposure to food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted that person-to-person transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings with inadequate infection prevention and control measures.
The NCDC noted that the number of new confirmed cases increased in the second week of 2025, with 89 cases reported compared to 54 in the first week.
The total number of confirmed cases, as of the second week of January 2025, was 143, with 22 deaths, representing a CFR of 15.4%. This CFR is lower than the 16.4% reported for the same period in 2024.
The majority of confirmed cases, 77%, were concentrated in three states: Ondo (38%), Edo (22%), and Bauchi (17%). The remaining 23% of cases were spread across other states, including Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, and Ebonyi.
The report also revealed that the predominant age group affected by Lassa fever is 21-30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.7 among confirmed cases.
The number of suspected cases was reported to have decreased compared to the same period in 2024. The second reporting week saw one new healthcare worker among the affected cases.
To manage the outbreak, the NCDC activated the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System, which coordinates response activities at all levels.
The NCDC continues to work closely with health officials to contain the spread of the disease and mitigate further fatalities.
Lassa fever remains endemic in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria, and it continues to pose significant public health challenges in the region.
The NCDC urges the public to take precautions to reduce exposure to the virus, including maintaining proper hygiene and ensuring proper infection control measures in healthcare settings.
