Lassa fever kills 127 in 18 states

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 674 Lassa fever cases with 127 deaths across 18 states, across 93 local government areas between January and April 6, 2025.

In a situation report released on Tuesday, the NCDC said 674 cases tested positive out of  4,025 suspected cases during the period under review.

So far, the country has recorded 127 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.8 per cent.

The states with reported death cases are Ondo (26); Bauchi (12); Edo (17); Taraba (31); Ebonyi (11); Kogi (four); Plateau (five).

Others are Gombe (seven); Benue (four); Nasarawa (four); Kaduna (two); Enugu (one); Delta (one); Cross-River (one); and Ogun (one).

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.

The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat), although other rodents can also act as carriers.

The report partly read, “In week 14, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 14 in epi week 13, of  2025 to 15.

These were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe States.

“Cumulatively in week 14, 2025, 127 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 18.8 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.5 per cent).

“In total for 2025, 18 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 LGAs. Seventy-one per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Bauchi and Edo) while 28 per cent were reported from 15 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.

“Of the 71 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Edo 16 per cent.

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 94 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.”

The agency said the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-sectoral Incident Management System had been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels.