Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak has claimed 177 lives so far in 2025, with the virus showing deadlier tendencies than last year.
Health data for the first week of November reveals a case fatality rate of 18.3% – up from 16.5% at this time in 2024.
Infections Spread Across 21 States
The country has confirmed 966 cases to date, affecting 102 local government areas in 21 states.
Last week saw a small uptick, with 12 new infections in Ondo, Edo, and Benue – compared to 11 the week before.
Four States Shoulder 87% of Cases
The burden falls heaviest on:
- Ondo: 36%
- Bauchi: 21%
- Edo: 17%
- Taraba: 13%
The other 13% are spread thin across 17 additional states.
Who’s Hit Hardest
- Age group: 21–30 years old
- Gender split: 1 male for every 0.8 females
The disease spreads via rat urine or droppings contaminating food and homes. It’s a yearly threat, but officials are ramping up containment efforts.
Good news: No healthcare workers caught it last week, and overall suspected cases are down from 2024.
As the dry season deepens, Nigeria braces for more – but swift action could keep numbers from climbing higher.
Nollywood Legal Battle: Taye Arimoro Demands N100m from Peggy Ovire
