The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 143 cases of Lassa fever and 22 deaths within two weeks, from December 30, 2024, to January 12, 2025.
The cases came from seven states and 32 local government areas, with 484 suspected cases reported during this period.
The Case Fatality Rate was recorded at 15.4%, lower than the 16.4% recorded in the same period last year.
According to the NCDC, the 22 deaths occurred in:
– Ondo: 6 deaths
– Taraba: 6 deaths
– Edo: 5 deaths
– Ebonyi: 2 deaths
– Bauchi: 2 deaths
– Gombe: 1 death
The majority of confirmed cases (77%) were from Ondo (38%), Edo (22%), and Bauchi (17%), while the other four states made up the remaining 23%.
The World Health Organisation describes Lassa fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, typically spread through food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.
Person-to-person transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings with poor infection prevention measures.
The disease is endemic in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
“In week two, the number of confirmed cases rose to 89 from 54 in week one of 2025,” the NCDC reported.
The report noted that the affected age group is mostly between 21 and 30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.7 among confirmed cases.
The NCDC disclosed that it has activated the National Lassa Fever Incident Management System, involving multiple partners and sectors, to coordinate response efforts.
A healthcare worker was also reported among the new cases.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to practice proper hygiene and take preventive measures to avoid the spread of Lassa fever.
