The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 811 cases of Lassa fever and 152 deaths between January and July 2025.
According to the Week 28 Situation Report released on Monday (covering July 7–13), new infections were recorded in Ondo, Edo, and Benue States. The case fatality rate (CFR) currently stands at 18.7%, up from 17.3% during the same period in 2024.
The NCDC noted that 89% of confirmed cases came from five high-burden states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi, with a total of 21 states and 105 LGAs reporting at least one confirmed case in 2025.
The Centre attributed rising fatalities to late presentation, poor health-seeking behaviour, high cost of treatment, and poor sanitation in affected areas. In response, it launched environmental response campaigns in the worst-hit states and urged the public to report suspected symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest pain, and hearing loss.
