The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 3,465 suspected cases of Lassa fever between January and March 2025, with 645 confirmed infections and 118 deaths.
In a statement on Sunday, the NCDC revealed that the outbreak has spread across 91 local government areas in 33 states, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3%.
Dr. Jide Idris, the director-general of the NCDC, disclosed that 20 healthcare workers have been infected across multiple states, including Ondo (8), Bauchi (4), Edo (1), Taraba (2), Ebonyi (1), Gombe (2), Benue (1), and Ogun (1).
To contain the outbreak, the NCDC has deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to 10 states—Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa—for a two-week intervention. However, due to the evolving situation, deployments in Edo and Taraba have been extended by an additional 10 and seven days, respectively.
To strengthen coordination and response efforts, the agency has activated the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre (LF-EOC) at Response Level 2, enabling improved collaboration among federal and state governments, local authorities, and development partners. Additionally, the NCDC has distributed critical medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and treatment medications, to affected states.
Despite these efforts, response challenges persist. The NCDC cited weak community-level surveillance, inadequate human and financial resources, and difficulties in treatment, contact tracing, and active case searches. Treatment centres are also grappling with staff shortages, while delayed healthcare seeking—often due to self-medication and reliance on traditional remedies—further complicates containment efforts.
Dr. Idris has called on state governments to help cover the costs of Lassa fever treatment and urged private sector involvement in ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies and public health awareness campaigns. He stressed that combating Lassa fever requires collective action, advising healthcare workers to maintain strict infection prevention and control (IPC) measures while urging citizens to adopt rigorous environmental hygiene practices to prevent rodent infestations, a key transmission factor.
The NCDC emphasized the need for greater public awareness, early medical intervention, and stronger healthcare infrastructure to effectively tackle the outbreak.