The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed 357 individuals under surveillance following the death of a 31-year-old physician who returned from the United Kingdom and succumbed to Lassa fever.
The doctor, who arrived in Nigeria on February 27, 2025, died on March 1, 2025, after being treated at a private health facility in Ondo State. Laboratory tests confirmed the cause of death as Lassa fever on March 4, 2025.
According to the NCDC, the deceased had visited his fiancée in Edo State and interacted with family and friends before his death. Data from the NCDC reveals that 535 out of 2,728 suspected cases across 13 states and 75 local government areas have tested positive for the disease. The death toll has risen to 100, with a case fatality rate of 18.7%.
“Cumulatively in Week 9, 2025, 100 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 18.7%, marginally lower than the same period in 2024,” the NCDC stated. The report highlighted that 72% of confirmed cases were reported from Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states, with Ondo alone accounting for 31% of the cases.
Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, is primarily transmitted through contact with the multimammate rat.
The NCDC noted that the disease peaks between October and May, with healthcare workers also at risk. So far, 17 healthcare workers have been infected in 2025.
The NCDC has activated the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts.
“The public is advised to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with rodents, and seek early medical attention if symptoms arise,” the agency urged.