Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a decline in confirmed Lassa fever cases for the fourth epidemiological week of 2025.
According to the NCDC’s latest situation report, 76 confirmed cases were recorded between January 20 and January 26, marking a slight decrease from the 71 cases reported in the previous week.
However, the death toll from Lassa fever continued to climb, reaching 53 fatalities nationwide.
The NCDC report highlighted that 75% of all confirmed cases were concentrated in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, with Ondo State leading with 37% of the total cases.
The agency attributed the rising death toll to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behavior due to the high cost of treatment, and inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden communities.
“The disease has affected 54 Local Government Areas across the country, with the predominant age group being 21 years to 30 years,” the report stated.
Despite the challenges, the NCDC has activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate control efforts at all levels.
The agency has also trained healthcare workers in case management in high-burden states and equipped Lassa fever treatment centers with essential response commodities.
The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures, such as maintaining proper hygiene and seeking medical attention promptly if symptoms occur.
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