Nigeria recorded 215 deaths from Lassa fever in 2025, with the disease’s case fatality rate rising to 18.7 per cent, higher than the 16.3 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024, according to the latest Situation Report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The report shows that confirmed cases rose from 21 in Epidemiological Week 51 to 27 in Week 52, covering the period between December 22 and 28, 2025. New infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
By the end of Week 52, Nigeria had recorded a total of 1,148 confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2025, spread across 22 states and 107 local government areas, underscoring the continued nationwide presence of the viral haemorrhagic disease.
Despite the late-year increase in confirmed cases, the NCDC noted that the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases in 2025 was lower than in 2024, suggesting gradual improvements in surveillance, early detection and response.
The report revealed that 89 per cent of confirmed cases were concentrated in four states, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba. Ondo State accounted for 35 per cent of cases, Bauchi 26 per cent, Edo 16 per cent, and Taraba 12 per cent, while the remaining 11 per cent were spread across 17 other states.
Young adults aged 21 to 30 years were the most affected group. Reported cases ranged from infants aged one year to elderly persons aged 96 years, with a median age of 30 years. The male-to-female ratio of confirmed cases stood at 1:0.8.
The NCDC confirmed that no healthcare worker was infected in Epidemiological Week 52, reflecting improvements in infection prevention and control measures in health facilities.
The agency said the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities nationwide, including surveillance, case management, risk communication and logistics support.
According to the NCDC, preparedness efforts were intensified ahead of the new outbreak season. These included dynamic risk assessments, behavioural studies in 10 high-burden states, community-based One Health planning, and After Action Reviews for the 2024/2025 outbreak season.
Health facility readiness was further strengthened through infection prevention and control training, hand hygiene audits, clinician sensitisation in hotspot LGAs, and the rollout of the NCDC’s IPC e-learning platform.
The agency added that Rapid Response Teams were deployed to affected states, while essential supplies such as personal protective equipment, Ribavirin, and public health information materials were distributed.
Risk communication was also enhanced through public jingles, targeted messaging, and the integration of Lassa fever awareness into broader viral haemorrhagic fever strategies, alongside sustained regional and international collaboration within ECOWAS.
