The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported an increase in the number of confirmed Lassa fever cases in its latest situation report for epidemiological week 23, spanning June 2 to 8, 2025.
The report indicated that a total of 11 new confirmed cases were reported across Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Taraba States, up from eight cases recorded in the previous week.
One new death among confirmed cases was also recorded during the week, bringing the case fatality ratio (CFR) for the week to 9.1 percent, the report revealed.
Cumulatively in 2025, according to the report, the country has recorded 758 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 143 deaths, resulting in a CFR of 18.9 percent, which is higher than the 17.8 percent reported during the same period in 2024.
So far this year, the report showed that 18 States across 96 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have reported at least one confirmed case.
However, the report also showed that the number of suspected and confirmed cases in 2025 remains lower compared to the same period last year when 911 confirmed cases and 162 deaths were recorded across 28 States and 125 LGAs.
According to the report, five States of Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi continue to account for 90 percent of all confirmed cases in 2025.
It also added that Ondo leads with 31 percent, followed by Bauchi with 25 percent, Edo with 16 percent, Taraba with 15 percent, and Ebonyi with 3 percent.
The remaining 10 percent of cases, the report showed, are distributed across 13 other States while the most affected age group is between 21 and 30 years, with a median age of 30.
The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1 to 0.8, though, one new healthcare worker infection was reported during the week, the report also revealed.
According to the report, the national Lassa fever multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains activated to coordinate response activities across all levels.
It also noted that key response actions during the reporting week included clinician sensitization in six high-burden LGAs in Ondo State with WHO support, and an After Action Review in Ebonyi State supported by Pro-Health International.
It also stated that a national risk dynamic assessment was conducted, and Lassa fever messages were integrated into broader viral hemorrhagic fever risk communication strategies.
The NCDC also launched its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) e-learning platform developed with Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust and funded by the Global Fund.
It said collaboration was deepened with various partners, including the Nigerian SORMAS Web Enhancement team and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Geneva, while Georgetown University supported webinars on clinical management and infection prevention in health facilities.
IPC materials were disseminated to health facilities nationwide with the support of the Robert Koch Institute.
Response commodities such as personal protective equipment, Ribavirin, body bags, thermometers, hand sanitizers, and IEC materials were distributed to states and treatment centers, according to the report.
It also stated that the agency deployed 10 Rapid Response Teams to affected states and conducted geospatial risk mapping and forecasting of medical countermeasures.
Healthcare worker training in Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Benue states, according to the agency, was supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in addition to Nigeria taking part in the Economic Community of West Africa ln States (ECOWAS) Regional Training on Lassa Fever Clinical Management in Togo and hosted monthly webinars on clinical protocols.
Efforts to strengthen surveillance and case management were intensified through enhanced contact tracing, active case finding, and the activation of public health emergency operation centres.
Community sensitization campaigns were carried out in high-burden LGAs, including radio engagements and environmental response drives in Ondo State.
Despite these efforts, the agency noted that challenges remain, such as late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour due to treatment costs, inadequate environmental sanitation, and low awareness in affected communities, which remain major contributors to the elevated CFR.
The agency emphasized the need for continued collaboration across sectors to reduce disease spread and improve early case detection and management.
