An ecologist extracts a sample of blood from a Mastomys Natalensis rodent in the village of Jormu in southeastern Sierra Leone February 8, 2011. Lassa fever, named after the Nigerian town where it was first identified in 1969, is among a U.S. list of "category A" diseases -- deemed to have the potential for major public health impact -- alongside anthrax and botulism. The disease is carried by the Mastomys Natalensis rodent, found across sub-Saharan Africa and often eaten as a source of protein. It infects an estimated 300,000-500,000 people each year, and kills about 5,000. Picture taken February 8, 2011. To match Reuters-Feature BIOTERROR-AFRICA/ REUTERS/Simon Akam (SIERRA LEONE - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY ANIMALS) - GM1E72F07HC01
April 9, 2025
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states as the epicentres of the Lassa fever outbreak in the country.
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of NCDC, said that the states accounting for over 70 per cent of all confirmed cases reported so far in 2025.
Idris said that the three states contributed 71 per cent of the 660 confirmed Lassa fever cases recorded between January and the end of March 2025, with Ondo accounting for 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Edo 16 per cent.
The director general said that the NCDC had intensified a nationwide multi-sectoral response through its activated Incident Management System at the national level to coordinate the public health emergency across affected states.
“As the cases surge in these epicentre states, our response is focused on early detection, case management, risk communication, and community engagement.
“The transmission remains active in multiple local government areas, with 28 states and 125 LGAs affected this year,” he said.
Idris also said that 122 deaths had so far been recorded, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.5 per cent—higher than the 17.5 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024.
To combat the spread, he said, that the NCDC has deployed National Rapid Response Teams to hotspot areas, trained healthcare workers on infection prevention and control, and scaled up community sensitisation.
The DG also stressed the importance of early presentation to health facilities to reduce fatalities.
Additionally, he revealed ongoing collaborations with key partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), to support surveillance, clinical care, and public awareness.
He said that the agency was also supporting research efforts through the CEPI-funded Enable Lassa Fever Program 1.5 and the implementation of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (COPE II) strategy to improve outbreak preparedness and response.
Idris said that Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted by rodents, continues to pose a serious health threat, particularly in rural communities where access to prompt healthcare was limited.
“We are working closely with state ministries of health, environmental health officers, and international partners to curb the spread and reduce the impact,” he added.
While the number of confirmed cases dropped from 41 in Week 12 to 14 in Week 13 of 2025, the NCDC boss urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, maintain proper hygiene, and avoid contact with rodents and their droppings.
“Our collective action is critical to ending this outbreak. We must act fast, together, and at every level of society,” Idris said. (NAN)
