The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a decline in confirmed Lassa fever cases in its latest Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 5 (January 27 – February 2, 2025).
According to the NCDC’s official website, while there has been a decrease in confirmed cases, the Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) has risen compared to the same period in 2024, raising concerns about the severity of the outbreak.
The report states that 68 new confirmed cases were recorded during Week 5 across seven states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Kogi, Gombe and Ebonyi. This marks a decrease from the 76 cases reported in the previous week.
Cumulatively, by Week 5 of 2025, there have been a total of 358 confirmed cases and 70 deaths, resulting in a CFR of 19.6 per cent – higher than the 19.2 per cent recorded in the same period in 2024.
The NCDC highlighted that 75 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases originated from three states: Ondo (37 per cent), Edo (20 per cent) and Bauchi (18 per cent). In total, 10 states have recorded at least one confirmed case, spanning 58 local government areas (LGAs).
The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years, with a median age of 32. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.8. Alarmingly, three healthcare workers were infected during the reporting week, which underscores the ongoing risks faced by frontline responders.
The NCDC has activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate response activities at all levels. Efforts include deploying national rapid response teams, conducting active surveillance and contact tracing, distributing medical supplies such as Ribavirin and personal protective equipment (PPE) and holding training sessions for healthcare workers in high-burden states like Bauchi, Ebonyi and Benue
Additionally, the agency has intensified community sensitisation efforts in hotspot LGAs and collaborated with partners such as Georgetown Global Health Nigeria (GGHN), Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to strengthen case management, surveillance and prevention strategies.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist. The NCDC noted that late presentation of cases continues to contribute to the rising fatality rate. Furthermore, poor health-seeking behaviour, high treatment costs and inadequate environmental sanitation in affected communities exacerbate the spread of the disease.
To reduce the risk of infection, the NCDC has advised Nigerians to adopt the following preventive measures:
1. Prevent Rodent Infestation by maintaining clean surroundings to discourage rodents, storing food in sealed containers and avoiding leaving leftovers uncovered, blocking holes and entry points in homes to prevent rodent access, disposing of garbage properly and keeping waste bins covered, washing hands frequently with soap and running water and cleaning kitchen surfaces and cooking utensils thoroughly; Avoid consuming food that might be contaminated by rodents and cooking all foods thoroughly before eating, avoiding drying grains, garri, or other food items [left] in open spaces accessible to rodents; Storing grains and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers and avoiding contact with infected persons and direct contact with body fluids of individuals showing symptoms of Lassa fever.
2. For Healthcare Workers, they are advised to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to suspected cases.
Individuals experiencing symptoms such as persistent fever, sore throat, vomiting, muscle pain and bleeding should visit the nearest health facility for testing and treatment. Early detection and prompt medical care significantly improve survival chances.
To curb the outbreak, the NCDC is enhancing surveillance, infection prevention and control measures, and strengthening laboratory capacities across the country. The agency urged state governments and communities to intensify efforts in rodent control, early case detection and public health education.
Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, is endemic in Nigeria, with yearly outbreaks peaking during the dry season. The NCDC continues to advise Nigerians to practice good hygiene, store food properly and avoid contact with rodents to reduce the risk of infection.
For further updates and prevention guidelines, the public is encouraged to visit the NCDC website or call the NCDC toll-free helpline at 6232.
