The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a concerning surge in Lassa fever cases across the country. As of the end of March 2025, 660 confirmed cases and 122 deaths have been recorded.
According to the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states are the epicenters of the outbreak, accounting for over 70% of confirmed cases reported this year. Specifically, Ondo accounts for 30%, Bauchi for 25%, and Edo for 16% of the total confirmed cases.
The NCDC has activated its incident management system at the national level to coordinate the public health emergency response across affected states. Dr. Idris stated that the agency is focusing on early detection, case management, risk communication, and community engagement. The virus remains active in multiple local councils, with 28 states and 125 councils affected this year.
The case fatality rate currently stands at 18.5%, higher than the 17.5% recorded during the same period in 2024.
READ ALSO: Are You Getting Enough Protein? 5 Signs You Might Not Be
In response, the NCDC has deployed national rapid response teams to hotspot areas, trained healthcare workers on infection prevention and control, and scaled up community sensitization. Dr. Idris emphasized the importance of early presentation to health facilities to reduce fatalities.
The NCDC is also collaborating with key partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), to support surveillance, clinical care, and public awareness efforts.
The agency is also supporting research efforts to improve outbreak preparedness and response.