NIGERIA: Lassa Fever Toll Hits 127 In Nigeria, Taraba And Ondo Lead Fatalities

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Nigeria is facing a growing public health crisis as the death toll from the ongoing Lassa fever outbreak has climbed to 127.

This is according to a fresh situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Tuesday.

Between January 1 and April 6, 2025, the NCDC confirmed 674 cases of Lassa fever out of 4,025 suspected cases spanning 93 local government areas across 18 states.

The latest figures reveal Taraba State as the hardest hit in terms of fatalities, recording 31 deaths, followed closely by Ondo (26 deaths) and Edo (17 deaths).

Other states with reported fatalities include Bauchi (12), Ebonyi (11), Gombe (7), Plateau (5), Kogi, Benue, and Nasarawa (4 each), as well as Kaduna (2) and one death each in Enugu, Delta, Cross River, and Ogun.

The current Case Fatality Rate (CFR) stands at 18.8 per cent, marginally higher than the 18.5 per cent recorded in the same period last year.

“In week 14 of 2025, 15 new confirmed cases were reported across six states; Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe showing a slight uptick from the 14 cases reported in the previous week,” the NCDC report noted.

The center attributes 71 per cent of all confirmed cases to just three states: Ondo (30%), Bauchi (25%), and Edo (16%), highlighting the regional intensity of the outbreak.

Young adults aged 21 to 30 are the most affected, according to the data, with a median age of 30 and a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8 among confirmed cases.

Lassa fever is a severe viral hemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted through exposure to food or household items contaminated with the urine or feces of infected multimammate rats, commonly referred to as African rats.

Person-to-person transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings.

Despite the alarming death toll, the NCDC reported a decline in the number of suspected cases compared to the same period in 2024, and no new infections among healthcare workers during the latest reporting week.

To strengthen the national response, the National Lassa Fever Incident Management System, comprising multi-partner and multi-sectoral stakeholders, has been fully activated.

Health authorities continue to urge Nigerians to maintain high levels of hygiene, store food securely, and avoid contact with rodents.

They also emphasize the importance of early medical attention for those showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, bleeding, and gastrointestinal issues.