Posted on: Wed 13-08-2025

Lassa Fever Cases Triple in One Week — Is Your State Next?”

August 12, 2025 | Abuja, Nigeria: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised the alarm over a sharp spike in Lassa fever infections, with nine new cases reported between July 28 and August 3, 2025 — a threefold increase from the previous week.

This sudden surge has pushed the total number of confirmed cases to 836 and deaths to 156 so far this year, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.7%, surpassing the 17.3% recorded during the same period in 2024.

Where Is It Hitting Hardest?

Lassa fever has now spread across 21 states and 105 Local Government Areas, but five states bear the brunt:

• Ondo – 33% of confirmed cases
• Bauchi – 23%
• Edo – 17%
• Taraba – 14%
• Ebonyi – 3%
  The remaining 16 states account for just 10% of cases.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Young adults aged 21 to 30 are the most affected, though cases span from infants to seniors aged 96. The male-to-female ratio is 1:0.8, showing a slight predominance among men.

Healthcare Workers & Response

No new infections were reported among healthcare workers during the week, but the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate the national response. Efforts include:

• Strengthening surveillance
• Improving early detection
• Ensuring rapid treatment

What You Can Do:

Public health officials urge Nigerians to adopt preventive measures:

• Maintain proper hygiene
• Store food safely
• Report symptoms early (fever, weakness, bleeding)

“Prompt diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving survival rates and reducing the disease’s spread,” the NCDC emphasized.

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