Nigeria Records 177 Lassa Fever Deaths in 2025 as Cases Surge Across 21 States

Nigeria has reported 177 fatalities from Lassa fever between January and early November 2025, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Thursday.

The latest epidemiological report from the NCDC indicates that as of Week 44 (ending November 2), the country has confirmed 966 cases spanning 21 states and 102 Local Government Areas. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) has risen to 18.3 per cent, up from 16.5 per cent during the same period in 2024, highlighting a concerning escalation in the disease’s impact.

Lassa fever, classified by the World Health Organisation as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, is caused by the Lassa virus and is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in several West African countries, including Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria.

According to the NCDC, new confirmed cases rose slightly from 11 in Week 43 to 12 in Week 44, with infections reported in Ondo, Edo, and Benue states. This year, four states—Ondo (36 per cent), Bauchi (21 per cent), Edo (17 per cent), and Taraba (13 per cent)—account for 87 per cent of all confirmed cases, while the remaining 13 per cent were reported across 17 other states. The most affected age group is 21–30 years, with patients ranging from one to 96 years old. The median age of cases is 30, and the male-to-female ratio is approximately 1:0.8.

The NCDC noted that while the number of suspected and confirmed cases in 2025 is lower than in the same period last year, no new healthcare workers were affected in Week 44. The national multi-partner, multi-sectoral Lassa fever Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response efforts across all levels as Nigeria grapples with one of its most persistent and deadly infectious diseases.