NCDC reports 10 deaths, 54 confirmed cases of Lassa fever

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 54 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 10 deaths in Nigeria, out of 196 suspected cases. These cases were recorded between December 30, 2024, and January 5, 2025.
According to the Lassa fever situation report from the NCDC, the cases were spread across six states and 20 local government areas. The report indicates that the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 70 in epidemiological week 52 of 2024 to 54 in week 1 of 2025. These cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Kogi States.
The report further states that, in week 1 of 2025, there have been 10 deaths, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.5%, which is higher than the CFR of 11.3% recorded during the same period in 2024.
“In 2025, six States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 20 LGAs.”
NCDC noted that 78 percent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, while 22 percent were reported from three states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
The NCDC further explained that the number of suspected cases increased compared to the same period in 2024.
The agency added that no new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week one, and the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System had been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels.
The NCDC had last year, activated the Emergency Operations Centre for Lassa fever, and the risk assessment was categorised as high.
In 2024, the country recorded 9,685 suspected cases of Lassa fever; 1,187 confirmed cases, and 191 deaths across 28 states, and 138 Local Government Areas.