The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said no fewer than 95 people died from Lassa Fever in 2025.
This was contained in the week eight (8)
of 2025 (17th–23rd February 2025)
epidemiology report released by the agency on Wednesday.
According to the report, 314 suspected cases were recorded, out of which 54 were confirmed for the week under review, while cumulatively, 2,492 suspected cases were reported, out of which 506 cases were confirmed, with 95 deaths.
It noted that the cases were mostly reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi States, and also noted a case fatality rate of 18.8 per cent, which was the same for the same period in 2024 (18.8%).
The epidemiology report further disclosed that, in total for 2025, 12 states recorded at least one confirmed case across 70 local government areas, and 73% of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from three states, namely Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo, while 27 per cent were reported from 9 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
“Of the 73 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 32 per cent; Bauchi 24 per cent; and Edo 17 per cent, and the predominant age group affected was 21–30 years, while the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8″,it said.
On his part, NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris blamed the development, on late presentation of cases leading to an increase in case fatality rate, poor health-seeking behaviour due to the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever, poor environmental sanitation conditions observed in high-burden communities, and poor awareness observed in high-burden communities are some of the challenges being faced in the fight against Lassa fever.
He, however, confirmed that measures are being taken at all levels to minimise the devastating effect of the Lassa fever and also reduce the mortality rate.ñ
