The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 80 deaths from 413 confirmed cases of Lassa fever across 11 states during Epidemiological Week 6, from February 3 to 9, 2025.
According to the NCDC, the case fatality rate (CFR) has increased to 19.4%, up from 17.5% during the same period in 2024.
The majority of confirmed cases—73%—were concentrated in three states: Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi. Ondo recorded the highest number with 34%, followed by Edo with 21%, and Bauchi with 18%.
A total of 63 local government areas in these 11 states have been affected by the outbreak, as revealed by the NCDC.
While the NCDC reports that no new healthcare worker infections have been recorded, delayed case presentations have been identified as a significant factor contributing to the rising fatality rate.
In its report, the NCDC highlighted challenges such as poor health-seeking behavior, high treatment costs, and limited awareness in the affected communities as key barriers to controlling the outbreak.
To address the situation, the NCDC has activated the National Lassa Fever Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate efforts and has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE) to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outbreak response.
The NCDC has urged Nigerians to take preventive measures, including maintaining good hygiene, avoiding contact with rodent droppings, and seeking medical attention early if symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding appear.
The agency also recommended storing food in sealed containers to prevent contamination from rats.
In its advisory, the NCDC emphasized that Lassa fever is preventable and encouraged the public to stay informed and take proactive measures to protect themselves and their communities.
