The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 145 deaths from Lassa fever so far in 2025, as the country battles an ongoing outbreak affecting 18 states.
According to the NCDC’s latest epidemiological report for week 24 (June 9–15), Nigeria has recorded 766 confirmed cases out of 5,678 suspected infections. The current case fatality rate has risen to 18.9%, compared to 17.6% during the same period last year.
Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi—account for 91% of all confirmed cases, with Ondo State alone contributing 31%, making it the epicenter of the outbreak.
While the number of new weekly cases slightly dropped from 11 to 8, the NCDC remains concerned about the persistently high death rate, attributing it to factors such as late presentation at health facilities, poor health-seeking behavior, and unsanitary living conditions.
To combat the outbreak, the NCDC has deployed rapid response teams to 10 states, ramped up risk communication, launched environmental sanitation campaigns, and trained frontline health workers in high-risk areas.
Although the agency has scaled down its Incident Management System to alert mode, it continues to incorporate Lassa fever awareness into broader health initiatives. Nigerians are urged to maintain good hygiene, store food safely to prevent rodent contamination, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms like fever, headache, vomiting, or unusual bleeding occur.
“The public is also encouraged to follow NCDC advisories and use the toll-free line 6232 for inquiries,” the agency added.
Lassa fever, which is endemic in Nigeria, is primarily transmitted through contact with the urine or feces of infected rats. It can also spread from person to person via bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or medical equipment.
