The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says at least 176 people have died from Lassa fever in 2025, as the outbreak continues to affect communities across 21 states. In its latest Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 43 (20–26 October 2025), the agency confirmed 955 cases out of 8,367 suspected infections recorded in 102 Local Government Areas. While the overall number of suspected infections is slightly lower than the same period in 2024, the case fatality rate has risen to 18.4 per cent, compared to 16.6 per cent last year, indicating a worsening severity among confirmed cases.
Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Taraba remain the most affected states, accounting for 88 per cent of all confirmed infections so far this year. The most impacted age group is between 21 and 30 years, with a median age of 30, and a male-to-female infection ratio of 1 to 0.8.
According to the NCDC, the rise in deaths is largely linked to late presentation at health facilities, low health-seeking behaviour among residents, high treatment costs, and poor environmental sanitation in high-burden communities. These challenges continue to undermine early detection and effective treatment, particularly in rural and underserved areas where access to adequate healthcare is limited.
The agency said response efforts are ongoing and are being coordinated through its multi-sectoral Technical Working Group, which includes the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners. Recent interventions include the deployment of National Rapid Response Teams to affected states, After-Action Reviews in Ondo, Ebonyi and Edo, and the training of health workers on case management in Bauchi, Benue and Ebonyi. Community sensitisation programmes and radio awareness campaigns are also underway in hotspots such as Ondo State.
To strengthen frontline capacity, the NCDC has launched an Infection Prevention and Control e-learning platform, developed with DRASA and funded by the Global Fund. The agency has also supplied ribavirin, personal protective equipment and other essential medical supplies to treatment centres nationwide, while confirming that no new healthcare worker infections were reported in Week 43.
The NCDC added that research and partnership efforts continue to expand, including collaborations with Georgetown University, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Nigeria Lassa Fever Vaccine Taskforce, co-chaired by NCDC and NAFDAC. The INTEGRATE clinical trial is currently underway in Ondo State, and Nigeria recently took part in the 2nd ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference in Côte d’Ivoire to advance regional coordination, vaccine development and access to innovative treatment strategies.