Lassa fever: NCDC records 506 cases, 95 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday, confirmed 506 Lassa fever cases out of the 2,492 suspected cases of the disease, and 95 deaths as of February 23, 2025.
The situation report of the hemorrhagic fever for week eight also showed that the disease has spread to 12 states and 70 local government areas with a Case Fatality Ratio of 18.8 per cent.
The confirmed cases were reported in Ondo (160), Bauchi (122), Edo (88), Taraba (80), Ebonyi (15), Kogi (14), Gombe (11), Plateau (seven), Benue (five), Nasarawa (two), Delta (one), and Cross-River (one).
Lassa fever, a disease that spreads during the dry season in Nigeria, is an animal-borne or zoonotic, acute viral illness spread by the common African rat also known as the mastomys rat species.
The report partly read, “In week eight, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 38 in epi week seven, of 2025 to 54. These were reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi States.
“Cumulatively in week 8, 2025, 95 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.8 per cent which is the same CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.8 per cent).
“In total for 2025, 12 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 70 Local Government Areas. 73 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three
states (Ondo, Bauchi and Edo) while 27 per cent were reported from nine states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.”
It noted that of the 73 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 32 per cent, Bauchi 24 per cent, and Edo 17 per cent.
It revealed that the predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 94 years, Median Age: 30
years), and the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
It said the number of suspected cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.
“One new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week eight.
“National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels,” it added.