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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Deaths from Lassa fever in 2025 has risen to 95 as a result of six new deaths that was recorded in week 8 of 2025 (17th–23rd February, 2025).
This was contained in the epidemiology report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Abuja, yesterday.
The NCDC report noted that 314 suspected cases were recorded out of which 54 was confirmed for the week under review, while cumulatively, 2, 492 suspected cases were reported out of which 506 cases were confirmed, with 96 deaths.
It noted that the cases were mostly reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi States, and also noted a case fatality rate of 18.8 percent which is the same for the same period in 2024 (18.8 percent).
The epidemiology report further noted that in total for 2025, 12 states have recorded at, least, one confirmed case across 70 Local
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Government Areas, and 73 percent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from three states namely, Ondo, Bauchi and Edo while 27 per cent were reported from 9 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
“Of the 73 percent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 32 per cent; Bauchi 24 percent; and Edo 17 percent, and the predominant age group affected was 21-30 years, while the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that late presentation of cases leading to an increase in case fatality rate, poor health-seeking behaviour due to the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa
fever, poor environmental sanitation conditions observed in high-burden communities, and poor awareness observed in high-burden communities, are some of the challenges being faced in the fight against Lassa fever.
He, however, confirmed that measures are being taken at all levels to minimise the devastating effect of the Lassa fever, and also reduce the mortality rate.
