The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the death of a 31-year-old physician who succumbed to Lassa fever after returning from the United Kingdom.
In a public advisory issued on Sunday, the NCDC reported a surge in Lassa fever cases, with 535 confirmed infections out of 2,728 suspected cases and 98 fatalities across 14 states as of March 2, 2025.
The Ondo State Ministry of Health first alerted the NCDC about the case on March 5. The deceased, who had recently returned from the UK, was treated at a private health facility in Ondo State before his passing on March 1.
The NCDC confirmed that the physician had visited Edo State, family, and friends before falling ill. A laboratory test later confirmed Lassa fever infection through PCR testing on March 4.
As of epidemiological week 9 (February 24 to March 2, 2025), Nigeria’s Lassa fever case fatality rate stands at 18.3%, with 91% of confirmed cases concentrated in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.
In response, the Ondo State Ministry of Health has ramped up containment efforts, including intensive contact tracing. The NCDC has also activated national response measures, collaborating with Port Health Services for enhanced surveillance and notifying UK health authorities.
The agency urges the public to follow preventive guidelines, maintain hygiene, and report symptoms early to curb the outbreak.
