The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed the death of a 31-year-old physician from Lassa fever after returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.
The incident has prompted the Ondo State Ministry of Health to begin extensive contact tracing to prevent further spread of the virus.
According to the NCDC’s public advisory released on March 9, the physician, who had visited his fiancée in Edo State and met with family and friends, succumbed to the disease despite receiving care at a private health facility in Ondo State.
The patient had traveled from Nigeria to the UK on February 19, 2025, and returned on February 27, 2025. He passed away on March 1, 2025, after being diagnosed with Lassa fever.
The NCDC confirmed that the virus was detected through a PCR test on March 4, 2025, following the physician’s death.
“All necessary in-country structures have been mobilised to ensure all possible contacts are traced and monitored,” the NCDC stated, adding that Port Health Services and UK authorities are also involved in the contact tracing efforts.
As of March 2, 2025, Lassa fever cases have surged to 535 confirmed cases with 98 deaths across 14 Nigerian states. The highest number of cases has been reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.
Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic fever, is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents and humans. Symptoms often resemble common illnesses, including fever, headache, and body aches, and can escalate to severe bleeding in some cases.
The NCDC urges early diagnosis and treatment to improve patient survival chances. “Early reporting of symptoms helps ensure timely diagnosis and treatment,” the health body emphasized.