Deadly Lassa Fever Surge: Nigeria Reports 822 Cases, 155 Fatalities

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports 822 confirmed cases and 155 deaths from Lassa fever, indicating a worsening national health crisis. On Tuesday, NCDC confirmed 11 more Lassa fever cases in Week 29 (July 14–20, 2025), all of which were reported in the states of Ondo and Edo.

This most recent spike raises the national total to 822 confirmed cases and the alarming total of 155 deaths in 2025.

The statement highlights a worsening situation that necessitates quick, well-coordinated actions at all governmental and healthcare delivery levels.

According to NCDC’s Situation Report, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) is 18.9%, up from 17.1% at the same time in 2024.

Considering that the number of newly confirmed infections stayed constant when compared to Epidemiological Week 28, this increase is particularly concerning as it raises the possibility that Lassa fever’s severity is increasing rather than just its incidence being the primary cause of death.

A staggering 89 percent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2025 have been concentrated in five states: Ondo (32 percent), Bauchi (23 percent), Edo (17 percent), Taraba (14 percent) and Ebonyi (3 percent).

Read Also: 21 Foreigners Convicted for Cybercrime in Nigeria, Fined N1 Million Each

Eleven percent are spread out over sixteen other states. The geographic spread is uncontrollable, with 21 states reporting at least one confirmed case spanning 105 local government districts.

The NCDC reports that the disease is primarily affecting young adults. While the overall age range of the outbreak is 1 to 96 years, the age group most affected is 21 to 30 years old.

The median age is 30 years, and the male-tofemale ratio for confirmed cases stands at 1:0.8.

These findings indicate to a group that is vital to the country’s workforce and economic future – showing the broader societal consequences of the pandemic.

The recurring high fatality rate serves as a clear reminder that containment and case management need to be strengthened, even though the number of suspected and confirmed cases this year has decreased in comparison to the same period in 2024 with no new infected healthcare worker.

Leading response efforts, enhancing surveillance, enhancing laboratory capabilities, and coordinating risk communication are all ongoing tasks for the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG).

Yet, the tenfold clustering of cases in a handful of states calls for heightened community engagement, environmental sanitation drives and rapid case-finding to stem the disease’s destructive march.