The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a total of 1,119 confirmed cases of Lassa fever across the country in 2025, with young adults identified as the most affected age group.
The agency disclosed this in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 51, covering December 15 to 21, 2025. The report provides an overview of the spread of the disease, fatalities, and affected states nationwide.
According to the NCDC, individuals aged between 21 and 30 years accounted for the highest number of confirmed infections, while the median age of infected persons stood at 30 years. The report also noted that males were slightly more affected than females, a trend attributed to differences in exposure risks and health-seeking behaviour in endemic communities.
Out of the confirmed cases, 206 deaths were recorded, translating to a case fatality rate of 18.4 per cent. This represents an increase compared to the 16.4 per cent fatality rate recorded during the same period in 2024.
In Epidemiological Week 51 alone, 21 new confirmed cases and five deaths were reported, a decline from the 28 cases recorded in the previous week, suggesting a slight reduction in transmission.
The latest cases were reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Kogi, Ebonyi, and Plateau states. In total, 21 states across 105 local government areas recorded at least one confirmed Lassa fever case in 2025.
The report showed that four states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Taraba—accounted for 88 per cent of all confirmed cases nationwide, with Ondo State alone contributing 35 per cent of the total infections.
The NCDC identified several challenges hindering effective outbreak control, including late presentation at health facilities, poor health-seeking behaviour driven by high treatment costs, and inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden communities.
The agency urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, ensure prompt diagnosis, and commence early treatment. It also called on state governments to strengthen risk communication, community engagement, and preventive measures.
The NCDC reaffirmed its commitment to coordinating a multi-sectoral national response, encompassing disease surveillance, case management, laboratory services, and infection prevention and control activities in affected and high-risk areas.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare and household settings.
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