The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has said that four states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba and Edo—accounted for about 89 per cent of confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded in Nigeria in 2025.
The agency disclosed this in its Epidemiological Week 52 situation report, covering December 22 to 28, 2025.
According to the report, Nigeria recorded 1,148 confirmed cases of Lassa fever across 22 states and 107 local government areas during the year.
The NCDC said confirmed cases increased from 21 in Week 51 to 27 in Week 52, with new infections reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
It noted that persons aged 21 to 30 years were the most affected, while no new healthcare worker infection was recorded during the reporting period.
The agency added that although the disease spread across several states, the number of suspected and confirmed cases declined compared with the same period in 2024.
However, it said 215 deaths were recorded from Lassa fever in 2025, with the case fatality rate rising to 18.7 per cent, higher than the 16.3 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
The NCDC advised Nigerians, particularly residents of high-burden states, to maintain proper hygiene, prevent rodent infestation and seek early medical attention when symptoms occur.
