An ecologist extracts a sample of blood from a Mastomys Natalensis rodent in the village of Jormu in southeastern Sierra Leone February 8, 2011. Lassa fever, named after the Nigerian town where it was first identified in 1969, is among a U.S. list of "category A" diseases -- deemed to have the potential for major public health impact -- alongside anthrax and botulism. The disease is carried by the Mastomys Natalensis rodent, found across sub-Saharan Africa and often eaten as a source of protein. It infects an estimated 300,000-500,000 people each year, and kills about 5,000. Picture taken February 8, 2011. To match Reuters-Feature BIOTERROR-AFRICA/ REUTERS/Simon Akam (SIERRA LEONE - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY ANIMALS) - GM1E72F07HC01
Feb. 9, 2025
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a decline in confirmed Lassa fever cases for the fourth epidemiological week of 2025.
The centre, however reported that the death toll from Lassa fever continued to climb, reaching 53 fatalities nationwide.
In its latest situation report via its official website, NCDC said that 76 confirmed cases were recorded between Jan. 20 and Jan. 26, marking a slight decrease from the 71 cases reported in the previous week.
It said that the cumulative data for 2025 showed a total of 290 confirmed cases and 1,171 suspected cases across 10 states, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.3 per cent.
It noted that this represented a marginal improvement compared to the 18.6 per cent CFR recorded during the same period in 2024.
The NCDC report highlighted that 75 per cent of all confirmed cases were concentrated in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states.
It said that Ondo State led with 37 per cent of the total cases, followed by Edo with 21 per cent and Bauchi with 17 per cent.
“The disease has affected 54 Local Government Areas across the country, with the predominant age group being 21 years to 30 years.
“The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is nearly equal at 1:0.9,” it said.
Despite the overall decline in new cases, the agency said that it remained concerned about the rising death toll.
It attributed the death toll to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour due to the high cost of treatment, and inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden communities.
In response to the outbreak, the NCDC said that it had activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate control efforts at all levels.
“Key activities include deploying National Rapid Response Teams, conducting risk communication and community engagement in affected areas, and enhancing surveillance and contact tracing efforts,” it said.
It said that healthcare workers had also been trained in case management in high-burden states like Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Benue, with plans to expand training to Plateau and Taraba states.
The agency said that Lassa fever treatment centres across the country have been equipped with essential response commodities, including personal protective equipment (PPE), Ribavirin, and infection prevention materials.
However, it outlined significant challenges, including poor awareness in high-risk communities and delayed case reporting, which continues to hinder effective outbreak control.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures, like maintaining proper hygiene, storing food properly to avoid contamination by rodents, and seeking medical attention promptly if symptoms occurred.
The agency said that it had also disseminated public health advisories and continues to provide off site support to state health authorities to strengthen response efforts.
