Deborah Akinyosoye
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 674 confirmed Lassa fever cases out of 4,025 suspected cases from January to April 6, 2025, in 18 states, across 93 local government areas.
This was disclosed in the latest situation report by the NCDC on Tuesday.
So far, the country has recorded 127 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.8 per cent.
The states with reported death cases are Ondo (26); Bauchi (12); Edo (17); Taraba (31); Ebonyi (11); Kogi (four); and Plateau (five).
Others are Gombe (seven); Benue (four); Nasarawa (four); Kaduna (two); Enugu (one); Delta (one); Cross-River (one); and Ogun (one).
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.
The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat), although other rodents can also act as carriers.
The report partly read, “In week 14, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 14 in epi week 13, of
2025 to 15. These were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe States. Cumulatively in week 14, 2025, 127 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 18.8 per cent, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.5 per cent).
“In total for 2025, 18 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 lgas. 71 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Bauchi and Edo) while 28 per cent were reported from 15 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 71 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Edo 16 per cent.
“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 94 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.”
It noted that the number of suspected cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024; and no new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 14. It added that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels.