Ondo, Bauchi, three others drive 90% of Lassa fever surge

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 739 confirmed Lassa fever cases out of 5,242  suspected cases from January to May 25, 2025.

The cases were recorded in 18 states across 95 local government areas in the latest situation report by the NCDC on its website on Sunday.

The agency’s report showed that 90 per cent of all confirmed cases were recorded in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states, while the remaining 10 per cent came from 13 other states.

The record showed that of the 90 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, Edo 16 per cent, Taraba 16 per cent, and Ebonyi three per cent.

So far, the country has recorded 141 deaths, with a Case Fatality Rate of 19.1 per cent.

The states with reported confirmed cases are Ondo (224); Bauchi (185); Edo (121); Taraba (116); Ebonyi (21); Kogi (15); Gombe (14); Plateau (13); Benue (11); Nasarawa (five); Kaduna (three); Enugu (three); Delta (two); Cross River (two); Borno (one); Ogun (one); Federal Capital Territory (one); and Anambra (one).

The states with reported death cases are Ondo (28); Bauchi (16); Edo (20); Taraba (34); Ebonyi (11); Kogi (four); Gombe (seven), Plateau (five), Benue (five), Nasarawa (four), Kaduna (two), Enugu (one), Delta (two), 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 read, “In week 21, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 13 in epidemiological week 20, of 2025 to six. These were reported in Ondo and Bauchi states.

“Cumulatively in week 21, 2025, 141 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 19.1 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 95 local government areas.”

The predominant age group affected is 21 to 30 years (range: 1 to 96 years, median age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.

Meanwhile, the disease has infected 22 healthcare workers so far in 2025.

The agency noted that the national Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral incident management system had been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels.