The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has identified Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states as the epicentres of the Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

Briefing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, said that the states accounting for over 70 per cent of confirmed cases reported so far in 2025.

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats. 

It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or infected medical equipment. 

Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from body openings.

Mr 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.

He said, “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.’’ 

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.

Mr 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. 

He noted, “We are working closely with state ministries of health, environmental health officers, and international partners to curb the spread and reduce the impact.”

Mr Idris also announced plans to launch a Lassa fever advocacy toolkit and resume its monthly webinar series for continuous case management training for frontline health workers.

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,” Mr Idris said. 

(NAN)