Nigeria’s Lassa fever deaths rise to 151

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 800 Lassa fever cases and 151 deaths so far in 2025, raising concerns over a worsening epidemic across the country.

The latest data shows a rise in the case fatality rate (CFR) to 18.9%, up from 17.3% during the same period last year. According to the NCDC’s epidemiological Week 27 update, 11 new confirmed cases were reported, up from nine the previous week. These cases were recorded across six states: Ondo, Edo, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Lagos, and Enugu, with three deaths reported during the week.

The outbreak continues to spread, affecting 21 states across 104 Local Government Areas. However, five states remain the main hotspots, accounting for 90% of all confirmed infections: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi. Ondo leads with 32% of cases, followed by Bauchi at 23%, Edo at 17%, Taraba at 15%, and Ebonyi at 3%.

The affected population ranges in age from one to 96 years, with the majority aged between 21 and 30. There is a slight gender imbalance, with males outnumbering females at a ratio of 1:0.8.

While the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases has slightly decreased compared to 2024, the rising fatality rate remains a key concern for health authorities. Notably, no new infections among healthcare workers were reported in the latest week.

Lassa fever, caused by the Lassa virus, is transmitted to humans primarily through contact with the urine or droppings of infected rodents. It can also spread from person to person and causes severe hemorrhagic fever in some cases.

The disease was first identified in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State in 1969 and has since been reported in several West African countries, including Mali, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

The Nigerian government declared a state of emergency for Lassa fever in January 2019, and the National Lassa Fever Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response efforts across the country.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid contact with rodents and maintain proper hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.

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