Kehinde Fajobi
Nigeria has recorded 54 fresh cases of Lassa fever alongside 10 fatalities during the initial week of 2025, covering the period from 30 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in its Week 1 situation report for 2025, published on its website.
The report revealed a decline in new confirmed cases from the 70 recorded in Week 52 of 2024 to 54. However, it noted an increase in suspected cases compared to the same period last year.
Cumulatively, Nigeria has reported 10 deaths in the current period, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.5%, significantly higher than the 11.3% CFR recorded in the same period in 2024.
State-by-State Breakdown
The NCDC highlighted that six states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Kogi—have reported at least one confirmed case across 20 local government areas.
It noted that 78% of all confirmed cases were concentrated in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, with Ondo accounting for 35%, Edo for 28%, and Bauchi for 15%.
The agency reported no infections among health workers during the period and indicated that people aged 20 to 31 were most affected by the disease.
In 2024, Nigeria recorded a total of 9,685 suspected Lassa fever cases, 1,187 confirmed cases, and 191 deaths across 28 states and 138 LGAs, consistent with the annual peak season for the disease, which occurs from December to April.
The NCDC identified several hurdles in tackling Lassa fever, including late presentation of cases, leading to higher fatality rates, and poor health-seeking behaviour due to the high cost of treatment.
Other challenges include poor sanitation and low awareness in high-burden communities.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or through exposure to infected individuals.
Symptoms range from fever, headache, sore throat, and general weakness to more severe signs such as unexplained bleeding from body openings.