…NCDC disclosed that 4,543 suspected Lassa fever cases were recorded nationwide.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that the deadly Lassa fever outbreak has claimed 168 lives across 21 states in 2025 alone, with nearly 900 confirmed infections.
In its latest situation report covering epidemiological week 38, the NCDC disclosed that 4,543 suspected cases were recorded nationwide. Of these, 897 tested positive, bringing the case fatality rate to 18.7 per cent, a worrisome trend for a preventable disease.
The agency identified Ondo, Edo, Taraba, and Bauchi as the epicentres of the outbreak, jointly accounting for 67 percent of all confirmed cases. Among them, Ondo State bears the highest burden, followed closely by Edo and Bauchi.
Other affected states include Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, Delta, Anambra, Rivers, Borno, Oyo, Ogun, the Federal Capital Territory, and Lagos.
The NCDC noted that the majority of infections were recorded among individuals aged 21 to 40- a group it described as the most socially and economically active, and therefore most exposed to the rodent-borne virus.
“This age bracket is more likely to engage in activities that increase exposure to the virus, particularly in environments with poor sanitation and food storage,” the report stated.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected rats. It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids, particularly in healthcare settings with inadequate infection control.
Despite public health campaigns, poor hygiene practices and limited access to healthcare continue to fuel the spread of Lassa fever in Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities.
Health officials are calling for heightened awareness, early detection, and community-level sanitation to curb further spread, while urging Nigerians to avoid contact with rodents and maintain strict hygiene, especially in endemic regions.
As of now, the NCDC continues to monitor the situation closely while supporting affected states with emergency response teams, laboratory services, and public health education campaigns.
