The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 145 deaths linked to Lassa fever so far in 2025, as the country continues to grapple with the ongoing outbreak of the viral haemorrhagic disease across 18 states.
According to the NCDC’s latest situation report for epidemiological week 24 (June 9–15), a total of 766 cases have been confirmed from 5,678 suspected infections nationwide. The current case fatality rate stands at 18.9 per cent – an increase from the 17.6 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
The agency highlighted five states as the most affected by the outbreak: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi, which together account for 91 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ondo State alone contributed 31 per cent of the total cases, making it the epicentre of the current outbreak.
Despite a slight decline in new weekly cases – dropping to eight from 11 the previous week – the NCDC expressed concern over the persistently high death rate. It attributed this trend to late presentation at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour and unsanitary living conditions in affected communities.
To address the crisis, the NCDC said it has deployed rapid response teams to 10 states, rolled out targeted risk communication, launched environmental sanitation drives and conducted training for frontline health workers in high-risk areas.
Although the agency has de-escalated its Incident Management System to alert mode, it continues to integrate Lassa fever messaging into broader health awareness campaigns. Citizens are being urged to observe proper hygiene, store food securely to prevent rodent contamination and seek immediate medical attention when experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or unusual bleeding.
“The public is also encouraged to follow NCDC advisories and utilise the toll-free line 6232 for inquiries,” the agency noted.
Lassa fever, which is endemic in Nigeria, is primarily transmitted through contact with urine or faeces of infected rats, but can also spread between humans via contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or medical equipment.
Science Nigeria reports that early diagnosis and treatment remain crucial to reducing fatalities associated with the disease.
