Nigeria is currently grappling with a significant Lassa fever outbreak in 2025, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirming a grim toll of 168 lives lost across 21 states. In its situation report for epidemiological week 38, the NCDC disclosed a total of 4,543 suspected cases, out of which 897 were confirmed positive. This translates to a concerning case fatality rate of 18.7 per cent, a figure notably above Nigeria's national target of below 10 per cent. Some states, particularly Taraba and Bauchi, have even recorded fatality rates higher than the national average, underscoring the severity of the outbreak in these regions.

The NCDC has identified four states – Ondo, Edo, Taraba, and Bauchi – as the epicentres of the current outbreak. These four states alone account for a substantial 67 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases. Ondo State bears the highest burden of cases, closely followed by Edo and Bauchi. The disease has also spread to numerous other states, including Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, Delta, Anambra, Rivers, Borno, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), indicating a widespread public health challenge.

Analysis of confirmed cases reveals that most affected individuals fall within the 21 to 40 age group. The NCDC highlighted that this demographic is considered the most socially and economically active, which inadvertently increases their exposure risk to the rodent-borne disease. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, primarily transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats. Furthermore, human-to-human transmission is a significant concern, especially within healthcare settings where proper infection prevention and control measures may be lacking.

While Lassa fever cases typically exhibit a seasonal peak during the dry season, spanning from December to April, the NCDC has observed that infections have unfortunately persisted throughout the year in 2025. The agency has issued a stark warning: without significantly stronger community awareness and more robust control measures, Lassa fever is poised to remain a persistent and formidable public health challenge for Nigeria.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the NCDC continues to coordinate comprehensive efforts. These include enhancing surveillance systems, expanding diagnostic capabilities across affected regions, and providing critical support to treatment centres situated in high-burden states. Concurrent community sensitisation campaigns are actively promoting essential preventive practices, such as ensuring proper food storage, maintaining stringent environmental hygiene, and strongly advising against self-medication. The NCDC emphasizes that early presentation at treatment centres is crucial for improving patient survival rates, as the antiviral medicine ribavirin proves most effective when administered promptly. The agency has also called for stronger collaboration among states, local communities, and healthcare workers to effectively curb the spread of the disease, urging all citizens to secure food items, meticulously cover household waste, and minimize any contact with rodents, which are the primary carriers of the Lassa virus.