Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria: 822 Confirmed Cases and 155 Deaths

Lassa fever continues to spread in Nigeria, with the country recording 11 new confirmed cases between January 1 and July 20, 2025. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has released data showing a total of 822 confirmed cases and 155 deaths. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) has increased to 18.9 per cent, compared to 17.1 per cent in the same period last year.

Key Takeaways:

Nigeria has recorded 822 confirmed cases of Lassa fever between January 1 and July 20, 2025, with 155 deaths.
The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) has increased to 18.9 per cent, up from 17.1 per cent in the same period last year.
The bulk of the confirmed cases (approximately 89 per cent) were concentrated in five states: Ondo (32 per cent), Bauchi (23 per cent), Edo (17 per cent), Taraba (14 per cent), and Ebonyi (three per cent).
The most affected age group is between 21 and 30 years, with a median age of 30 and slightly more male cases (male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8).
No new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week, and the number of suspected and confirmed cases decreased compared to the same period in 2024.
Confirmed infections have been reported across 21 states and 105 local government areas.

Statistics:

Total confirmed cases: 822
Deaths: 155
Case Fatality Rate (CFR): 18.9 per cent
Number of suspected cases: 6,640
States with confirmed cases: 21
Local government areas with confirmed cases: 105
Age group most affected: 21-30 years
Median age: 30
Male-to-female ratio: 1:0.8

Sources:

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC)