In 3 weeks, Nigeria records 214 cases of Lassa fever, 39 deaths across 43 councils
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
In the past three weeks alone, 214 confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been recorded in Nigeria with 39 deaths across 10 states and 43 councils North and South, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed in its update on the latest outbreak of the disease.
The deaths occurred between 30 December 2024 and 19 January 2025, the NCDC said, and listed 843 suspected cases with a case fatality rate of 18.2 per cent.
It disclosed that the cases were confirmed in the following states:
- Ondo (82)
- Edo (47)
- Bauchi (35)
- Taraba (31)
- Ebonyi (six)
- Gombe (four)
- Kogi (four)
- Plateau (three)
- Delta (one)
- Nasarawa (one)
States in which deaths were reported are
- Ondo (eight)
- Edo (nine)
- Bauchi (dour)
- Taraba (nine)
- Ebonyi (three)
- Gombe (three)
- Kogi (one)
- Plateau (one)
- Nasarawa (one)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes Lassa fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.
Humans usually get infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected mastomys rats.
The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa – Benin Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria.
“Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures,” the WHO said.
The NCDC explained that “In week three, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 89 in epi week 2, of 2025 to 71. These were reported in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Delta, and Kogi States.
“Cumulatively in week three, 2025, 39 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.2 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (20.4 per cent).
“In total for 2025, 10 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 43 Local Government Areas.”
According to the NCDC, 77 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi and 23 per cent from seven states.
Of the 77 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 38 per cent, Edo 22 per cent, and Bauchi 17 per cent.
It said the predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 3 to 94 years, Median Age: 30 years); and the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
“The number of suspected cases increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.
“No new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week three.
“National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels.”
The NCDC confirmed it deployed National Rapid Response Teams to support onsite control and management efforts using a One Health approach.
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