The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that Lassa fever has claimed 168 lives across 21 states in 2025. In its situation report for epidemiological week 38, the agency revealed a total of 4,543 suspected cases, of which 897 were confirmed positive, with a case fatality rate of 18.7 per cent.
The NCDC noted that four states, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, and Bauchi, remain the epicentres of the outbreak, accounting for 67 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ondo alone has recorded the highest burden, followed by Edo and Bauchi. Other affected states include Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, Delta, Anambra, Rivers, Borno, Oyo, Ogun, the Federal Capital Territory, and Lagos.
The report also highlighted that most of the confirmed cases were among people aged 21 to 40, with both men and women affected.
The NCDC said this age group is the most socially and economically active, making them more exposed to the rodent-borne disease.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats.
