NCDC Confirms 10 New Lassa Fever Cases In 2 States

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said 10 new cases of Lassa fever have been recorded in Ondo and Edo states.

The center disclosed this yesterday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 25 (June 16–22, 2025), adding that the disease had claimed 145 lives so far this year, with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.6 per cent, a slight rise from the 17.6 per cent recorded in the same period last year.

So far this year, 101 local government areas in 20 states have reported at least one confirmed case of the viral hemorrhagic fever, the report stated.

It further revealed that 91 per cent of the total confirmed cases originated from just five states;  Ondo (31%), Bauchi (24%), Edo (17%), Taraba (16%), and Ebonyi (3%) , highlighting persistent hotspots for the disease. The remaining 9 per cent of cases was spread across 15 other states.

The most affected demographic remains individuals aged 21 to 30, with a median age of 30 years. The gender distribution showed a slightly higher number of male patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.

While the overall number of suspected and confirmed cases has decreased compared to the same period in 2024, the NCDC emphasised the importance of sustained vigilance. Notably, no new infections were recorded among healthcare workers during the reporting week.

The centre said the National Lassa Fever Technical Working Group, comprising multi-sectoral and multi-partner stakeholders, continues to coordinate response efforts nationwide, reinforcing surveillance, case management, risk communication and infection prevention and control.