Between December 30, 2024, and January 5, 2025, Nigeria reported 54 new cases of Lassa fever and 10 fatalities. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed these figures in its week one situation report for 2025, published on its website. The report indicated a decline in new confirmed cases from 70 in the final week of 2024 to 54 in the first week of 2025. However, there was an increase in suspected cases compared to the same period in the previous year.
Overall, the report highlighted 10 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.5%, which is notably higher than the 11.3% CFR recorded during the same timeframe in 2024.
Six states, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Kogi, reported at least one confirmed case across 20 Local Government Areas in 2025. Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states accounted for 78% of the confirmed cases, with Ondo contributing 35%, Edo 28%, and Bauchi 15%.
No health workers were infected during this reporting period. The disease predominantly affected individuals aged 20 to 31.
In 2024, Nigeria experienced a significant number of Lassa fever cases, with 9,685 suspected cases, 1,187 confirmed cases, and 191 deaths across 28 states and 138 LGAs. This rise aligns with the typical peak season for Lassa fever, which occurs during the dry season from December to April.
Challenges
The NCDC highlighted several challenges in managing Lassa fever, including delayed case presentations leading to a higher CFR and poor health-seeking behavior, possibly due to the high costs of treatment and clinical management.
Additional challenges include poor environmental sanitation and limited awareness in high-burden communities.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or through contact with infected individuals. Symptoms range from fever, headache, and sore throat to severe cases of unexplained bleeding from various body openings.
