The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 54 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 10 deaths in the first week of 2025. This comes from a total of 196 suspected cases recorded between December 30, 2024, and January 5, 2025.
According to the NCDC’s Lassa fever situation report, these cases were spread across six states and 20 local government areas (LGAs), with the majority of new infections recorded in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Kogi States.
Notably, the number of confirmed cases in the first week of 2025 decreased from 70 cases in the final week of 2024, reflecting a slight decline in new infections.
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The report also highlighted an increase in the case fatality rate (CFR), which stood at 18.5% in the first week of 2025, significantly higher than the 11.3% CFR reported during the same period in 2024.
The outbreak has predominantly affected Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, which together account for 78% of all confirmed cases.
While suspected cases have risen compared to the same period in the previous year, no new healthcare workers were reported to be infected in week one of 2025.
The NCDC emphasised that its National Lassa fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System is fully operational to coordinate the national response.
In 2024, Nigeria faced a larger Lassa fever outbreak, with 9,685 suspected cases, 1,187 confirmed infections, and 191 deaths across 28 states and 138 LGAs.
The NCDC continues to monitor and respond to the ongoing situation, maintaining a high-risk assessment for the disease.
 has reported 54 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 10 deaths in the first week of 2025. This comes from a total of 196 suspected cases recorded between December 30, 2024, and January 5, 2025.){kind=link}