Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi lead as Lassa fever claims 141 lives

Five Nigerian states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi—have accounted for a staggering 90% of all confirmed Lassa fever cases in the country so far in 2025, according to the latest Week 21 situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The NCDC, in its epidemiological report published on Sunday, disclosed that 739 confirmed cases and 141 deaths have been recorded nationwide in the first 21 weeks of the year, translating to a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 19.1%.

This marks a slight increase from the 18.1% CFR recorded during the same period in 2024.

While the overall number of confirmed and suspected cases has declined compared to 2024—when 897 cases and 162 deaths were reported by Week 21—the mortality rate has risen marginally, raising concerns about treatment outcomes and healthcare access.

Eighteen states across 95 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have reported at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever so far in 2025, down from 28 states and 125 LGAs recorded during the same period last year.

The burden of the outbreak remains concentrated in five states: Ondo – 224 cases (30% of total); Bauchi – 185 cases (25%); Edo – 121 cases (16%); Taraba – 116 cases (16%) and Ebonyi – 21 cases (3%)

Other states with reported cases include Kogi (15), Gombe (14), Plateau (13), Benue (11), Nasarawa (5), Kaduna (3), Enugu (3), Delta (2), Cross River (2), Borno (1), Ogun (1), the Federal Capital Territory (1), and Anambra (1).

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The virus has claimed 141 lives, with the highest number of deaths recorded in Taraba (34), followed by Ondo (28), Edo (20), and Bauchi (16). Other states reporting fatalities include: Ebonyi – 11; Gombe – 7; Plateau – 5; Benue – 5; Kogi – 4; Nasarawa – 4; Kaduna – 2; Delta – 2; Enugu – 1; Cross River – 1 and Ogun – 1

The NCDC report shows that the majority of infections are occurring among young adults, with the most affected age group being 21 to 30 years. The median age is 30, and the male-to-female ratio of confirmed cases stands at 1:0.8, indicating slightly higher infection rates among males.

So far in 2025, 22 healthcare workers have been infected with Lassa fever, although notably, no new infections among health workers were reported during the most recent week under review.

The NCDC confirmed that a national multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) remains active to coordinate the Lassa fever response across federal and state levels, alongside development partners.

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can occur, particularly in health facilities lacking adequate infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols.

The NCDC continues to urge Nigerians, especially those in high-risk areas, to maintain strict hygiene, improve environmental sanitation, and report early symptoms to health facilities. Communities are also encouraged to reduce rodent contact and avoid self-medication.

As the nation works to contain the outbreak, public health experts stress the need for sustained awareness campaigns, improved access to treatment, and enhanced surveillance to reduce transmission and fatality rates.