Lassa Fever Death Toll Hits 127 in Nigeria as NCDC Raises Alarm Over Second Wave
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed a total of 127 deaths from Lassa fever in 2025 as of epidemiological week 14 (March 31 – April 6), marking a slight increase in the case fatality rate compared to the same period last year.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, described the situation as “deeply concerning,” calling for stronger public health action, early case presentation, and improved community hygiene practices.
“This trend is worrying. The case fatality rate has climbed to 18.8% this year, slightly higher than the 18.5% recorded in the same period of 2024. Late presentation of cases and poor health-seeking bebehaviorsespecially in high-burden communities, continue to hinder our response efforts,” Dr. Idris stated in a media briefing in Abuja.
According to the latest situation report released by the NCDC on Tuesday in Abuja, 674 confirmed cases have been recorded out of 4,025 suspected cases so far in 2025. The disease has now spread to 93 Local Government Areas across 18 states, with Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo accounting for a staggering 71% of all confirmed cases.
Ondo State leads the outbreak with 30% of all confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi (25%) and Edo (16%). The most affected demographic group remains individuals aged 21–30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.
In week 14 alone, 15 new confirmed cases and five deaths were recorded across six states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe. While this marks a slight increase from the previous week (14 cases), NCDC notes that no healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week—a critical milestone in frontline worker safety.
Dr. Idris emphasized the activation of the National Multi-sectoral and Multi-partner Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate the country’s Lassa fever response. “We are deploying rapid response teams to hotspots, ramping up surveillance, and working closely with states and partners like WHO, UNICEF, and MSF to address gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and community engagement,” he said.
The report also highlighted several interventions underway, including a series of webinars on clinical management, the deployment of protective equipment, laboratory upgrades, and active case searches in high-risk communities like Ondo. Health workers across Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Benue have also received additional training in case management.
However, the NCDC cited persistent challenges that threaten progress. “We are battling late hospital visits, unaffordable treatment costs, poor environmental sanitation, and low awareness in vulnerable communities. These must be addressed urgently,” Dr. Idris added.
The Centre urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and practice preventive measures, including rodent control, safe food storage, and early hospital visits in case of fever symptoms.
For more information and safety guidelines, citizens are encouraged to visit www.ncdc.gov.ng or call the NCDC toll-free line at 6232.
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