NCDC records 103 Lassa fever deaths, 563 confirmed cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday, confirmed 563 Lassa fever cases out of the 2,960 suspected cases of the disease and 103 deaths as of March 9, 2025.

The situation report of the hemorrhagic fever for Week 10 also showed that the disease has spread to 14 states and 78 local government areas with a Case Fatality Ratio of 18.3 per cent.

The confirmed cases were reported in Ondo (175), Bauchi (139), Edo (98), Taraba (84), Ebonyi (17), Kogi (15), Gombe (11), Plateau (10), Benue (five), Nasarawa (three), Delta (two), Cross-River (two), Enugu (one), and Anambra (one).

Lassa fever, a disease that spreads during the dry season in Nigeria, is an animal-borne or zoonotic, acute viral illness spread by the common African rat also known as the mastomys rat species.

The report partly read, “In Week 10, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 29 in epi week 9, of 2025 to 28. These were reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Plateau, Delta, Anambra, Kogi, and Taraba States.

“Cumulatively in week 10, 2025, 103 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 18.3 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.9 per cent).

“In total for 2025, 14 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 78 Local Government Areas.”

It said 73 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo, while 27 per cent were reported from 11 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.

It added that of the 73 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 31 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Edo 17 per cent.

It revealed that the predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 94 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.

It said the number of suspected cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.

“One new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 10.

“National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels,” it added.

It further said 351 persons have been listed for follow-up over the possibility of being infected with Lassa fever.