Nigeria is grappling with a fresh surge of Lassa fever infections, with 21 states and 106 local government areas now affected, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
In its latest situation report for epidemiological week 38, the agency disclosed that the country has recorded 4,543 suspected infections so far in 2025. Of these, 897 were confirmed, with 168 deaths reported, putting the case fatality rate at 18.7 per cent.
Ondo, Edo, Taraba and Bauchi have emerged as the epicentres of the outbreak, jointly accounting for about 67 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ondo tops the list, followed by Edo and Bauchi. Other states battling the disease include Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, Delta, Anambra, Rivers, Borno, Oyo, Ogun, the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos.
The report further showed that most infections were recorded among people aged 21 to 40 years — a demographic described as the most socially and economically active, hence more likely to be exposed to the rodent-borne virus.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted mainly through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats. The NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene and seek medical care promptly if symptoms develop, to curb further spread.
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