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  • Lassa fever death toll hit 215 in 2025, fatality rate exceeds 2024 level – NCDC

    Lassa fever death toll hit 215 in 2025, fatality rate exceeds 2024 level – NCDC

    Nigeria recorded 215 deaths from Lassa fever in 2025, with the disease’s case fatality rate rising to 18.7 percent, higher than the 16.3 percent recorded during the same period in 2024, according to the latest Situation Report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

    The report shows that confirmed cases increased from 21 in Epidemiological Week 51 to 27 in Week 52, covering the period from December 22 to 28, 2025. 

    The new infections were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and Taraba States.

    Cumulatively, Nigeria recorded 1,148 confirmed Lassa fever cases by the end of Week 52 in 2025, with infections reported across 22 states and 107 Local Government Areas, reflecting the continued nationwide spread of the viral haemorrhagic disease.

    Despite the increase in cases during the final week of the year, the NCDC noted that the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases in 2025 was lower than what was recorded during the same period in 2024, indicating gradual improvements in surveillance, early detection and response.

    The report revealed that 89 percent of all confirmed cases in 2025 were concentrated in four States — Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba. 

    Ondo State accounted for 35 percent of confirmed cases, Bauchi 26 percent, Edo 16 percent and Taraba 12 percent, while the remaining 11 percent were reported across 17 other states.

    Young adults aged 21 to 30 years were the most affected group, with reported cases ranging from infants aged one year to elderly persons aged 96 years. 

    The median age of confirmed cases was 30 years, and the male-to-female ratio stood at 1 to 0.8.

    The NCDC also confirmed that no healthcare worker was infected during Epidemiological Week 52, underscoring improved infection prevention and control practices in health facilities.

    The agency said the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate response activities nationwide, covering surveillance, case management, risk communication and logistics support.

    Read Also: NCDC Report: Lassa fever killed 176 in 10 months

    It stated that Lassa fever response efforts were intensified across the country ahead of the new outbreak season, including the conduct of a dynamic risk assessment and a webinar on the application of the Lassa fever advocacy toolkit.

    According to the agency, behavioural assessments were conducted in 10 high-burden states, alongside community-based One Health planning, After Action Reviews for the 2024/2025 outbreak season, and strategic capacity development sessions.

    It added that health facility preparedness was strengthened through infection prevention and control training, hand hygiene audits, clinician sensitisation in hotspot local government areas, and the launch of the NCDC’s IPC e-learning platform.

    The agency noted that national and subnational partners supported vaccine development planning, clinical trials in Ondo State, as well as multiple fellowship and clinical management training programmes.

    It further disclosed that Rapid Response Teams were deployed to affected states, while essential commodities including personal protective equipment, Ribavirin and information, education and communication materials were distributed.

    The agency said these efforts were complemented by enhanced risk communication through jingles, targeted messaging, and the integration of Lassa fever messages into broader viral haemorrhagic fever strategies, alongside sustained regional and international collaboration across ECOWAS countries.

  • Lassa fever deaths hit 166, says NCDC

    Lassa fever deaths hit 166, says NCDC

    • Fatality rate rises above last year’s

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says 166 people died from Lassa fever between January and last month, with the case fatality rate now higher than last year’s.

    This is contained in Epidemiological Week 37, covering Sept. 8 to 14, cited on the NCDC website yesterday.

    The Public Health agency said 895 confirmed cases were recorded across 21 states and 106 local government areas.

    It said this represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.5 per cent, compared to 16.9 per cent reported within the same period in 2024.

    The agency noted that while suspected and confirmed cases were fewer than those reported last year, more patients are dying because of late presentation and poor health-seeking behaviour, often linked to the high cost of treatment.

    According to NCDC, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi states continue to account for 90 per cent of confirmed cases, with Ondo alone responsible for a third of infections.

    The NCDC also confirmed that no new healthcare worker was infected during the reporting week.

    However, it warned that poor environmental sanitation, weak awareness in high-burden communities and delayed treatment continue to fuel the spread and severity of the disease.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus.

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    It is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, particularly the multi-mammate rat.

    Human-to-human transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings without adequate infection control.

    Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and in severe cases, unexplained bleeding.

    The disease is endemic in parts of West Africa, with Nigeria bearing the highest burden.

    To strengthen control, the NCDC said it had deployed 10 rapid response teams to affected states, launched new infection prevention and control (IPC) training modules and supported clinical management fellowship programmes in collaboration with local and international partners.

    The agency urged states to intensify community engagement and preventive campaigns and reminded healthcare workers to maintain high suspicion and initiate early treatment when symptoms appear.

  • Lassa fever: Fatality rate climbs above 2024 levels

    Lassa fever: Fatality rate climbs above 2024 levels

    …as Nigeria reports rise in cases 

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed a fresh spike in Lassa fever infections, with nine new cases recorded between July 28 and August 3, 2025, across Edo, Ondo, and Taraba states, a threefold increase from the three cases reported the previous week.

    Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or droppings, remains endemic in parts of Nigeria

    The agency’s latest situation report for epidemiological week 31 showed that the disease’s toll continues to mount, with 836 confirmed cases and 156 deaths recorded so far this year, translating to a case fatality rate of 18.7 percent. 

    The figure is higher than the 17.3 percent fatality rate reported during the same period in 2024.

    According to the report, Lassa fever has now been confirmed in 21 States and 105 Local Government Areas (LGAs), although the vast majority of cases remain concentrated in five States. 

    Ondo accounts for the highest burden, with 33 percent of all confirmed infections, followed by Bauchi with 23 percent, Edo with 17 percent, Taraba with 14 percent, and Ebonyi with 3 percent. 

    The remaining 16 affected States collectively account for 10 percent of cases.

    The NCDC report noted that the most affected demographic is young adults aged 21 to 30, with cases ranging from infants to elderly patients aged 96. 

    Read Also: NCDC raises alarm as Lassa fever kills 155

    The male-to-female ratio among confirmed infections stands at 1 to 0.8, indicating a slight predominance among men.

    While the week under review saw no new infections among healthcare workers, the agency warned that the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases remains significant, even though the year-to-date figures are slightly lower than in 2024.

    The National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate the national response, working with state authorities to strengthen surveillance, improve early detection, and ensure rapid treatment to reduce fatalities. 

    Public health officials are urging communities to adopt preventive measures, including improved hygiene, proper food storage, and early reporting of symptoms such as fever, weakness, and bleeding.

    The NCDC reiterated that prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving survival rates and reducing the disease’s spread, particularly in high-burden states.

  • Lassa fever: Ikeja Platinum takes campaign, sanitation to market

    Lassa fever: Ikeja Platinum takes campaign, sanitation to market

    Ikeja Platinum Lions Club, District 404B2 Nigeria recently took its July Activity to Kuyasi Awise Market, Onigbongbo town, Maryland, Lagos.

    Led by its 2025/26 president, Lion Olubimpe Gbaiye, alongside her service year chairperson, Lion Udoka Lillian Ugali, the club donated environmental cleaning tools like rakes, brushes, dustbins, hand gloves, parkers, and related items to the market. They also partook in the general cleaning of the market and thereafter carried out an awareness campaign on the Lassa fever disease, educating the traders on the causes and prevention.

    Read Also: Lassa fever kills 152 in Nigeria, says NCDC

    They were received by the Baba-oja, who is also the Babaloja-General of Onigbongbo LCDA, Alhaji Rasak Akerele; alongside the Olopa Oja (market policewoman), Chief Elizabeth Ojo.

    Baba-oja expressed his gratitude to the club for the gesture, which he said was more significant because the club came to them unsolicited and made the donations free-of-charge.

    Olopa Oja, who said she earned her nickname ‘Sweep and pack’ because of her strictness to environmental matters in the market, prayed for members of the club for always being at the forefront of a better society.

  • WAHO steps up efforts against Lassa fever

    WAHO steps up efforts against Lassa fever

    The West African Health Organization (WAHO) has convened a strategic communication workshop to address persistent communication gaps hampering effective regional health advocacy.

    The initiative which was in preparation for the 2nd ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference scheduled for September 8–12, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, according to WAHO, was informed by growing concerns that poor communication among stakeholders had led to delays and inefficiencies, particularly in activities related to the upcoming conference.

    The organization said the regional health advocacy workshop became imperative because of the burden of Lassa fever in the sub region, a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa, with an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 cases and about 5,000 deaths annually.

    It is said to be caused by Lassa virus, an arenavirus known to be responsible for a severe hemorrhagic fever characterized by fever, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and chest and abdominal pain.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness of 2-21 days duration that occurs in West Africa.

    Given this, WAHO stressed that the initiative was informed by growing concerns that poor communication among stakeholders had led to delays and inefficiencies, particularly in activities related to the upcoming conference.

    Read Also: Nigeria records increased LASSA fever cases

    The workshop, themed Bridging Communication Gaps for Effective Regional Health Advocacy, was designed to create a harmonized messaging approach, clarify roles and responsibilities, and develop a coordinated roadmap for health advocacy in West Africa.

    The two-day strategic communication workshop, convened in Abuja by Prof. Melchior Athanase Joël C. AISSI-led WAHO, brought together communication focal points from key stakeholder groups to assess the current communication landscape, identify barriers to effective coordination, and develop a unified communications strategy for the upcoming conference and future regional health advocacy efforts.

    The workshop highlighted the importance of effective communication in galvanizing political will, enhancing preparedness, and coordinating regional responses to disease outbreaks.

    Participants engaged in plenary sessions, breakout groups, and strategy-building exercises to develop practical, time-bound media engagement plans and shared calendars for the conference and future initiatives.

    Key expected outcomes included a joint analysis of communication bottlenecks, development of a harmonized communications strategy, creation of an activity roadmap, and establishment of a clear communication structure across ECOWAS Member States.

    Participants included representatives from the Coalition Secretariat Partners (CSP) such as Nigeria Health Watch, Bloom Public Health, and Corona Management Systems; WAHO technical teams; ECOWAS Communication Directorate; and task force communication leads from countries affected by Lassa Fever, including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Benin, Togo, and host country Côte d’Ivoire.

    Participants lauded the workshop as timely. Harold Thomas from Sierra Leone said it was crucial for advancing regional coordination on Lassa Fever, while Donni Dickson noted the need for an earlier intervention but praised the effort as a step in the right direction.

  • Nigeria records increased LASSA fever cases

    Nigeria records increased LASSA fever cases

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported an increase in the number of confirmed Lassa fever cases in its latest situation report for epidemiological week 23, spanning June 2 to 8, 2025.

    The report indicated that a total of 11 new confirmed cases were reported across Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Taraba States, up from eight cases recorded in the previous week.

    One new death among confirmed cases was also recorded during the week, bringing the case fatality ratio (CFR) for the week to 9.1 percent, the report revealed.

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    Cumulatively in 2025, according to the report, the country has recorded 758 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 143 deaths, resulting in a CFR of 18.9 percent, which is higher than the 17.8 percent reported during the same period in 2024.

    So far this year, the report showed that 18 States across 96 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have reported at least one confirmed case.

    However, the report also showed that the number of suspected and confirmed cases in 2025 remains lower compared to the same period last year when 911 confirmed cases and 162 deaths were recorded across 28 States and 125 LGAs.

    According to the report, Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi States continue to account for 90 percent of all confirmed cases in 2025.

    It also added that Ondo leads with 31 percent, followed by Bauchi with 25 percent, Edo with 16 percent, Taraba with 15 percent, and Ebonyi with 3 percent.

    The remaining 10 percent of cases, the report showed, are distributed across 13 other States while the most affected age group is between 21 and 30 years, with a median age of 30.

    The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1 to 0.8, though, one new healthcare worker infection was reported during the week, the report also revealed.

    According to the report, the national Lassa fever multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains activated to coordinate response activities across all levels, adding that key response actions during the reporting week included clinician sensitization in six high-burden LGAs in Ondo State with WHO support, and an After Action Review in Ebonyi State supported by Pro-Health International.

    It also stated that a national risk dynamic assessment was conducted, and Lassa fever messages were integrated into broader viral hemorrhagic fever risk communication strategies.

    The NCDC also launched its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) e-learning platform developed with Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust and funded by the Global Fund.

    It said collaboration was deepened with various partners, including the Nigerian SORMAS Web Enhancement team and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Geneva, while Georgetown University supported webinars on clinical management and infection prevention in health facilities.

    IPC materials were disseminated to health facilities nationwide with the support of the Robert Koch Institute.

    Response commodities such as personal protective equipment, Ribavirin, body bags, thermometers, hand sanitizers, and IEC materials were distributed to states and treatment centers, according to the report.

    It also stated that the agency deployed 10 Rapid Response Teams to affected states and conducted geospatial risk mapping and forecasting of medical countermeasures.

    Healthcare worker training in Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Benue states, according to the agency, was supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in addition to Nigeria taking part in the Economic Community of West Africa ln States (ECOWAS) Regional Training on Lassa Fever Clinical Management in Togo and hosted monthly webinars on clinical protocols.

    Efforts to strengthen surveillance and case management were intensified through enhanced contact tracing, active case finding, and the activation of public health emergency operation centres.

    Community sensitization campaigns were carried out in high-burden LGAs, including radio engagements and environmental response drives in Ondo State.

    Despite these efforts, the agency noted that challenges remain, such as late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour due to treatment costs, inadequate environmental sanitation, and low awareness in affected communities, which remain major contributors to the elevated CFR.

    The agency emphasized the need for continued collaboration across sectors to reduce disease spread and improve early case detection and management.

  • Tackling Lassa fever in Nigeria

    Tackling Lassa fever in Nigeria

    By Emeka Taye Umezurike

    Lassa fever continues to pose a significant public health threat in Nigeria, particularly during the dry season. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the disease has become an annual epidemic in several states, with recent figures indicating an alarming surge in cases and fatalities.

    As of March 2025, the NCDC reported a total of 3,465 suspected Lassa fever cases, with 645 laboratory-confirmed cases and 118 recorded deaths, translating to a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.3%. This marks a steep increase compared to the 13% CFR in 2024, indicating worsening outcomes despite previous interventions.

    The states of Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi remain the most affected, jointly accounting for approximately 70% of confirmed infections. These states are considered hyperendemic zones, with cases regularly reported during the dry season from October to May.

    In the preceding year (2024), Nigeria recorded 9,492 suspected cases, 1,154 confirmed infections, and 190 deaths, according to NCDC data published by Nairametrics and The Nation. Over 33 states and 91 Local Government Areas (LGAs) reported at least one confirmed case, illustrating how deeply rooted and widespread the disease has become.

    One of the most troubling aspects of the ongoing outbreak is its toll on healthcare workers. In early 2025 alone, 20 healthcare personnel were infected with the virus. This persistent risk, despite the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), highlights weaknesses in infection

    prevention and control (IPC) practices across Nigeria’s healthcare facilities. Some sources insist that many hospitals still lack adequate IPC training, particularly in rural communities. This results in delayed diagnoses and higher rates of transmission within clinical environments.

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    Lassa fever is caused by the Lassa virus, transmitted to humans primarily through exposure to urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats, a rodent species common across West Africa. Human- to-human transmission can also occur, especially in hospitals lacking proper hygiene and protective protocols.

    Several factors contribute significantly to the continued spread of Lassa fever in Nigeria. One of the most critical is poor sanitation and substandard housing conditions, particularly in low- income and rural communities. These environments create easy access for rodents, especially the Mastomys rat, which carries the virus to infiltrate homes, contaminate food supplies, and breed unchecked. Compounding this problem is the widespread issue of inadequate waste management. Uncollected refuse and open dumpsites serve as breeding grounds for rodents, increasing the likelihood of contact between humans and infected animals.

    Beyond these human-made factors, environmental changes also play a role. Climate change, in particular, has emerged as a growing contributor to the expansion of Lassa fever’s reach. In a 2025 interview with Premium Times, the former Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, emphasised that alterations in rainfall patterns and steadily rising temperatures are creating more favourable ecological conditions for the survival and spread of rodent vectors across new regions. This means that even areas that were previously considered low-risk are now increasingly reporting Lassa fever cases, making the disease not only persistent but also more unpredictable in its transmission patterns.

    To manage the escalating crisis, the NCDC activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Lassa Fever at Response Level 2 in January 2025. This includes deploying rapid response teams to high-burden states, ramping up laboratory diagnostics, and enhancing coordination with international partners like the World Health Organisation (WHO). Efforts have also been made to increase the availability of ribavirin, the antiviral medication used in treatment, and to educate the public through radio and community engagement. However, these interventions have not yet reversed the trend of rising cases.

    While health authorities have launched various sensitisation campaigns, public awareness remains limited, especially in rural regions. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Infection and Public Health revealed that fewer than 30% of residents in high-risk LGAs could correctly identify early symptoms or knew that they should seek medical attention promptly. These gaps in knowledge significantly contribute to delayed treatment and higher death rates.

    Given the seriousness of Lassa fever, public education remains one of the most effective tools in curbing its spread. Raising awareness and promoting preventive behaviours across communities are crucial steps toward reducing transmission rates and protecting vulnerable populations.

    One of the most important areas of focus is rodent control. Households are strongly encouraged to maintain a clean environment and take proactive steps to keep rodents away. This includes storing all food items in sealed containers, disposing of waste properly, covering garbage bins to prevent rodent access, and avoiding the practice of drying foodstuffs such as grains and garri on bare ground where rodents may defecate or urinate on them.

    Safe food handling is another vital preventive measure. People should avoid eating food that may have been contaminated by rat droppings or urine. It is advisable to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before consumption and to ensure that drinking water is either boiled or sourced from a clean, reliable supply.

    In healthcare settings, strict protective protocols are essential, particularly for frontline workers who are at increased risk of exposure. Medical personnel must use gloves, masks, and other personal protective equipment when attending to patients suspected of having Lassa fever. Any patient presenting with symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding should be isolated immediately and tested in accordance with established guidelines.

    Recognising the early signs of infection is also critical. Early detection and prompt medical attention can significantly improve survival rates. Typical symptoms of Lassa fever include fever, sore throat, chest pain, vomiting, and in severe cases, bleeding from the mouth, nose, or other orifices. Individuals experiencing such symptoms should visit a healthcare facility without delay.

    Lastly, fostering community vigilance plays a central role in disease prevention. Communities are urged to report suspected Lassa fever cases to the nearest health authorities promptly. In addition, regular participation in neighbourhood clean-up campaigns and rodent eradication efforts can help reduce the population of disease-carrying rats and limit opportunities for transmission. Together, these practical steps anchored in hygiene, environmental control, and timely healthcare can drastically reduce the incidence of Lassa fever if embraced collectively and consistently by the Nigerian public.

    Lassa fever is a preventable disease, but eradicating it requires more than emergency response. Experts are calling for a multi-sectoral strategy that includes long-term environmental sanitation, improved housing, sustained public health education, and investment in vaccine research. The NCDC, alongside the Ministry of Health and development partners, must ensure that Lassa fever no longer remains a silent killer in the background of Nigeria’s public health landscape. With sustained efforts, it is possible to break the cycle of seasonal outbreaks and save countless lives.

    •Dr Umezurike, a medical microbiologist, writes from Lead City University, Ibadan

  • NCDC reports 169 deaths from Lassa fever, Mpox, cholera in 2025

    NCDC reports 169 deaths from Lassa fever, Mpox, cholera in 2025

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 832 cases of Lassa fever and Mpox combined, along with 1,307 suspected cases of cholera, resulting in a total of 169 deaths across the country so far in 2025.

    This was disclosed by the NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, during a national health security briefing held in Abuja on Friday, where he emphasized that the agency remains committed to its role of safeguarding public health by ensuring the timely dissemination of accurate and transparent health information.

    Idris said the NCDC, in conjunction with State Health Ministries and development partners, continues to maintain a close watch over infectious disease trends through its surveillance systems while supporting affected areas with appropriate interventions.

    “As of epidemiological week 16, Nigeria has recorded 4,253 suspected cases of Lassa fever, out of which 696 were confirmed, and 132 deaths reported, indicating a case fatality rate of 19%,” he said.

    He noted a recent reduction in Lassa fever cases, citing improvements attributed to sustained surveillance, community outreach, and clinical response.

    However, he warned that the disease remains a threat, particularly in areas where it is endemic.

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    On Mpox, the NCDC chief revealed that 723 suspected cases had been recorded between January and mid-April, with 136 confirmed across 27 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The death toll from Mpox, according to him, stands at three, involving patients with underlying health conditions, including HIV and tuberculosis.

    “The pattern of Mpox infections indicates persistent transmission across the country, with confirmed cases largely concentrated in the southern and central regions,” he said, adding that the virus has affected people from various professions, students, traders, civil servants, and healthcare workers underscoring the risk of both community and hospital-acquired infections.

    On Mpox fatalities, Idris confirmed that a national mortality review is underway to determine gaps in care and identify lessons for future response.

    On cholera, Idris reported 1,307 suspected cases spanning 30 States and 98 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with 34 related deaths, putting the case fatality rate at 2.6%, which is higher than the WHO target of below 1%.

  • Lassa Fever claims five lives in one week as cases surge across six states

    Lassa Fever claims five lives in one week as cases surge across six states

    Lassa fever has claimed five lives in one week from 15 confirmed cases reported across six states and 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs), according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

    In its latest situation report for Epidemiological Week 14 (March 31 to April 6), the NCDC revealed that the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for the week has risen to 33.3%. 

    The most affected states—Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe—accounted for 71% of all confirmed cases nationwide.

    Cumulatively, as of Week 14, the country has recorded 127 deaths from Lassa fever, reflecting an overall CFR of 18.8%, a slight increase from 18.5% during the same period in 2024.

    The report further noted that 18 states across 93 LGAs have reported at least one confirmed case this year. 

    Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo States remain the epicenters, accounting for 30%, 25%, and 16% of cases respectively. 

    Read Also: Lassa fever: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo remain epicentres

    The remaining 28% were spread across 15 other states.

    It also revealed that the disease continues to predominantly affect individuals between the ages of 21 and 30, with the age range spanning from 1 to 94 years, and a median age of 30. 

    The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases stands at 1:0.8, the agency noted.

    Notably, the number of suspected Lassa fever cases has decreased when compared to the same period in 2024, the report stated, revealing that no new healthcare workers were affected by the virus in week 14.

    To strengthen response efforts, the Director General, Jide Idris, said the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) has been activated, coordinating response activities at all levels of government.

  • Lassa fever: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo remain epicentres

    Lassa fever: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo remain epicentres

    • NCDC raises multi-sectoral response

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo States as the epicentres of the Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

    Speaking to reporters yesterday in Abuja, Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the states account for over 70 per cent of all confirmed cases so far reported.

    Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats.

    Read Also: Lassa fever killed doctor, 97 others in two months, says NCDC

    It can also spread from person to person through body fluids, contaminated objects, or infected medical equipment.

    Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from body openings.

    Idris said the three states contributed 71 per cent of the 660 confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded between January and the end of March 2025, with Ondo accounting for 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Edo 16 per cent.