Friday, January 16, 2026 - The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said 215 deaths were recorded from Lassa fever in 2025, with the case fatality rate (CFR) rising to 18.7 percent, higher than the 16.3 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.
The NCDC
disclosed this via its official website in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for
Epidemiological Week 52 (December 22–28, 2025), noting that the country
recorded 1,148 confirmed cases out of 9,389 suspected cases during the year.
According
to the report, 22 states and 107 local government areas were affected by
confirmed cases in 2025, underscoring the continued public health threat posed
by the viral haemorrhagic disease.
The agency
said that while the number of suspected and confirmed cases declined compared
to 2024, the higher fatality rate remained a major concern. “In week 52 alone,
27 new confirmed cases and nine deaths were reported across Bauchi, Ondo,
Ebonyi, Taraba and Nasarawa states.”
NCDC added
that the increase from 21 cases in the previous week signalled sustained
transmission in hotspot areas.
The report
revealed that four states, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba, accounted for 89
percent of all confirmed cases recorded nationwide.
“Ondo
state led with 35 percent, followed by Bauchi with 26 percent, Edo with 16 per
cent and Taraba with 12 percent,” it said.
On
demographics, the NCDC said young adults aged 21 to 30 years were the most
affected, with cases ranging from one to 96 years and a median age of 30 years.
It added that the male-to-female ratio stood at 1:0.8 among confirmed cases.
The agency
attributed the rising fatality rate largely to late presentation of cases at
health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour and the high cost of
treatment, especially in high-burden communities.
It also
listed poor environmental sanitation and low awareness levels as persistent
challenges fueling the spread of the disease.
The NCDC,
however, said it had intensified response efforts through a multi-partner,
multi-sectoral approach, including the deployment of 10 National Rapid Response
Teams to affected states.
Other
interventions included training of healthcare workers, strengthening of
infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, distribution of Ribavirin,
personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other response commodities, as well as
expanded risk communication and community engagement activities.
Symptoms
range from fever, weakness and headache to vomiting, diarrhoea, bleeding and
organ complications in severe cases.
Early
diagnosis and prompt treatment with antiviral medication improved survival
outcomes.
Ondo, Edo,
Bauchi and Taraba remained the most affected states, although more than 20
states had reported infections in 2025.
The NCDC
advised the public to maintain good hygiene, ensure proper food storage, keep
homes rodent-free and seek early medical attention if symptoms developed.
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