The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a significant outbreak of Lassa fever in the country, with 143 confirmed cases and 22 deaths recorded across seven states and 32 local government areas.
According to the NCDC’s Lassa fever situation report, which covers the period from December 30, 2024, to January 12, 2025, the affected states include Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe.
The report noted that the number of new confirmed cases increased from 54 in the first week of 2025 to 89 in the second week, indicating a rising trend in the outbreak.
The NCDC also reported that 77% of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, with the predominant age group affected being 21-30 years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes Lassa fever as an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which is endemic to the rodent population in parts of West Africa.
The NCDC has activated its National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate response activities at all levels.