Lassa Fever Claims 118 Lives Across 33 States in Q1 2025

Nigeria is facing a significant Lassa fever outbreak, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reporting 645 confirmed cases and 118 deaths from January to March 2025, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.3%. Among the infected, 20 healthcare workers were reported, raising concerns about the safety of frontline personnel. To combat the outbreak, the NCDC deployed Rapid Response Teams to 10 states and activated the Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Centre to improve coordination among stakeholders. However, challenges persist, including weak community surveillance, limited resources for treatment and contact tracing, and delays in patients seeking care, often due to reliance on self-medication. The NCDC has distributed essential medical supplies and issued specific advisories to enhance prevention and control efforts. Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, emphasized the need for collective action and support from state governments and the private sector to strengthen response initiatives.