Loading
Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research · Journal article
Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health · September 3, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This is a descriptive surveillance report documenting the epidemiology of a Lassa fever outbreak in Taraba State, Nigeria during early 2025. The outbreak involved 165 suspected cases (70 laboratory-confirmed), with a case fatality rate of 52.9%, concentrated among young adult males (52.7% male, 40.6% aged 15–24 years), and peaked in epidemiological week 4.
Descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological survey. Persons meeting suspected case definition (clinical and epidemiological criteria) reported to Taraba State surveillance system during the outbreak; setting was community and healthcare facility-based case identification in Taraba State, North-Eastern Nigeria during January–February 2025.. n = 165. Taraba State, Nigeria; outbreak data collected across multiple local government areas (LGAs) including Bali, Ibbi, Wukari, Gassol, and Ardo-Kola..
165 suspected cases reported, of which 70 (42.6%) were laboratory-confirmed 37 confirmed cases died, giving case fatality rate of 52.9% 15–24 year age group accounted for 40.6% (67/165) of suspected cases
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
This report characterises a high-mortality Lassa outbreak affecting young adults in North-Eastern Nigeria and identifies geographic hotspots (Bali, Ibbi, Wukari) and temporal peak (week 4). Public health practitioners should use these findings to prioritise surveillance intensification, risk communication targeting young males, and rapid treatment access in high-burden local government areas.
Descriptive outbreak report with no comparator or intervention trial; documents case counts, demographics and CFR during an active response but provides surveillance data rather than analytical evidence to guide interventions.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
This report characterises a high-mortality Lassa outbreak affecting young adults in North-Eastern Nigeria and identifies geographic hotspots (Bali, Ibbi, Wukari) and temporal peak (week 4). Public health practitioners should use these findings to prioritise surveillance intensification, risk communication targeting young males, and rapid treatment access in high-burden local government areas.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Introduction: Lassa fever (LF) is endemic in West Africa, representing a significant public health security threat. While Nigeria bears the highest burden, detailed state-level epidemiological data, particularly in North-Eastern states like Taraba, remain scarce. This study provided a comprehensive descriptive epidemiological pattern of Lassa fever in Taraba State from epidemiological weeks 1 – 7, 2025, addressing a critical evidence gap and informing targeted public health interventions. Methods: We conducted a descriptive epidemiological study analysing Taraba State surveillance and contact tracing data during the outbreak response from epidemiological week 1 – 7, 2025. A suspected case was defined as any person with malaise, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, myalgia, chest pain, hearing loss and a history of contact with rodent excreta or with a case of Lassa fever, while a confirmed case was defined as a suspected case that is laboratory-confirmed with Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction. We reviewed response logs, risk communication, and medical supply distribution. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, proportions, positivity rate, and case fatality rate (CFR), were calculated, and the temporal distribution was analysed. Results: A total of 165 suspected cases were reported, of which 70 (42.6%) were laboratory-confirmed cases. Three suspected cases (1.8%; 3/165) occurred among healthcare workers. Thirty-seven confirmed cases died, giving a case fatality rate of 52.9%. The 15- 24-year age group accounted for 40.6% (67/165) of suspected cases, and 52.7% (87/165) were male. Bali LGA recorded the highest positivity rate (67.7%; 23/35), accounted for the highest proportion of confirmed cases (32.9%; 23/70) and high CFRs were noted in Ibbi and Wukari LGA (100%), Gassol (75%), Ardo-Kola (53.3%) and Bali (52.2%). The outbreak peaked during epidemiological week 4 (late January 2025). Conclusion: The Lassa fever outbreak in Taraba State was characterised by a high CFR, concentration of cases among young adult males and the epidemiological week 4 peak necessitated immediate and targeted public health interventions, including strengthening surveillance, implementing intensive community awareness campaigns for high-risk groups, and ensuring prompt access to life-saving treatment in high-burden LGAs.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.