Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that five states—Taraba, Ebonyi, Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi—are responsible for 90% of all confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded in the country since the beginning of 2025.
In its Week 21 Epidemiological Report released on Sunday, the NCDC disclosed that Nigeria has documented 739 confirmed cases and 141 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.1%. This figure reflects a slight increase compared to the 18.1% CFR recorded at the same time in 2024.
According to the NCDC, Ondo State alone accounts for 30% of the confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi (25%), and both Edo and Taraba (16% each), with Ebonyi reporting 3%.
In terms of raw numbers, Ondo recorded 224 cases, Bauchi 185, Edo 121, Taraba 116, and Ebonyi 22. Additional states with confirmed cases include Kogi (15), Gombe (14), Plateau (13), Benue (11), and Nasarawa (5). States with the lowest confirmed cases include Kaduna and Enugu (3 each), Delta and Cross River (2 each), while Borno, Ogun, FCT, and Anambra reported just one case each.
Despite the rising numbers, the NCDC noted a small reprieve in the latest reporting week: “Notably, no healthcare workers were affected during the latest reporting week.
However, 22 healthcare workers have been infected so far in 2025,” the agency said, emphasizing the continued vulnerability of frontline health personnel throughout the ongoing outbreak.
