NCDC records 22 deaths, 143 cases of Lassa fever in two weeks

About 22 deaths and 143 confirmed cases of Lassa fever were recorded out of 484 suspected cases across seven states and 32 local government areas. from December 30, 2024, to January 12, 2025.

According to the Lassa fever situation report obtained from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the deaths occurred in Ondo (6), Edo (5), Bauchi (2), Taraba (6), Ebonyi (2), and Gombe (1).

This represents a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 15.4 per cent.

Already, NCDC has activated the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate response activities at all levels.

The report showed that 77 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were from Ondo (38 per cent), Edo (22 per cent), and Bauchi (17 per cent), while the remaining 23 per cent were reported from four other states.

It noted that the predominant age group affected is 21–30 years (range: 3 to 78 years, median age: 32 years), with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.7 among confirmed cases.

The report reads, “In week two, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 54 in epidemiological week one of 2025 to 89, reported in Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Kogi, and Ebonyi States.

“Cumulatively in week two of 2025, 22 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 15.4 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (16.4 per cent). Seven states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 32 local government areas this year.”

The report revealed that the number of suspected cases decreased compared to the same period in 2024 while one new healthcare worker was affected in the second reporting week.