Lassa fever kills 142 people, spreads to 18 states

Lassa fever kills 142 people, spreads to 18 states

Nigeria has reported 747 confirmed cases of Lassa fever from a pool of 5,394 suspected infections between January 1 and June 1, 2025, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The virus, which has now spread to 96 local government areas in 18 states, has led to 142 deaths, marking a case fatality rate of 19 per cent.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, typically transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent excreta. Its primary reservoir is the multimammate rat, although other rodent species may also transmit the virus.

“Cumulatively as of Week 22, 2025, 142 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate of 19.0 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.1 per cent).”

“In total for 2025, 18 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 96 local government areas,” the NCDC stated in its latest situation report published on Thursday.

Five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi—account for the bulk of infections, contributing 91 per cent of confirmed cases. The NCDC detailed the breakdown as follows: “Of the 91 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 31 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, Edo 16 per cent, Taraba 16 per cent, and Ebonyi, three per cent.”

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The report also noted that individuals aged 21–30 years make up the most affected age group, with cases ranging from one to 96 years old.

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 96 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8,” the report added.

The death toll is distributed across several states, including Taraba (34), Ondo (28), Edo (21), Bauchi (16), and Ebonyi (11). Other states that recorded fatalities are Kogi (4), Gombe (7), Plateau (5), Benue (5), Nasarawa (4), Kaduna (2), Enugu (1), Delta (2), Cross River (1), and Ogun (1).

Confirmed infections were also documented in the following areas: Ondo (229), Bauchi (186), Edo (122), Taraba (116), Ebonyi (21), Kogi (15), Gombe (14), Plateau (13), Benue (11), Nasarawa (6), Kaduna (3), Enugu (3), Delta (2), Cross River (2), Borno (1), Ogun (1), Federal Capital Territory (1), and Anambra (1).

While the number of suspected and confirmed cases has declined compared to the same period in 2024, the NCDC emphasized that coordinated national response efforts remain active.

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.”

Lassa fever kills 142 people, spreads to 18 states