Nigeria has documented 747 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of a total of 5,394 suspected cases between January and June 1, 2025, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Details from the latest situation report, published Thursday on the NCDC’s official website, reveal that these infections have been reported across 96ocal Government Areas spanning 18 states.
The agency confirmed that the outbreak has so far led to 142 fatalities, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate of 19.0 percent.
Lassa fever is a severe and often deadly viral illness caused by the Lassa virus. It is classified as a viral haemorrhagic fever. The primary host of the virus is the multimammate rat, also known as the African rat, although other rodents may also spread the disease.
The report noted, “Cumulatively as of Week 22, 2025, 142 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate of 19.0 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.1 per cent).
“In total for 2025, 18 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 96 local government areas.
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“91 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from five states (Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi) while nine per cent were reported from 13 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
“Of the 91 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 31 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, Edo 16 per cent, Taraba 16 per cent, and Ebonyi, three per cent.
“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 96 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8,” the report read in part.
The death toll is distributed across various states, with Taraba recording the highest number at 34 deaths. Ondo follows with 28 deaths, Edo with 21, Bauchi with 16, and Ebonyi with 11.
Other states with recorded fatalities include Gombe (seven), Plateau (five), Benue (five), Kogi (four), Nasarawa (four), Delta (two), Kaduna (two), Enugu (one), Cross River (one), and Ogun (one).
In terms of confirmed infections, Ondo State leads with 229 cases, followed by Bauchi (186), Edo (122), Taraba (116), and Ebonyi (21). Additional confirmed cases have emerged from Kogi (15), Gombe (14), Plateau (13), Benue (11), Nasarawa (six), Kaduna (three), Enugu (three), Delta (two), Cross River (two), and one case each in Borno, Ogun, the Federal Capital Territory, and Anambra.
The NCDC report also indicated a drop in both suspected and confirmed Lassa fever cases when compared to figures from the same period in 2024.
To manage the situation effectively, the report stated that the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to oversee and coordinate outbreak response activities across all levels.
