Following the death of a 31-year-old physician in Ondo State after returning from the United Kingdom, UK; the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a new public warning on Lassa fever. In the advisory warning signed on the 9 March by the agency Director General, Jide Idris, NCDC reported that as of 2 March, Nigeria had recorded 535 confirmed cases out of which 98 were fetal across 14 states in year 2025 alone.
According to NCDC , Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi states accounted for about 91 per cent of infections recorded.
Latest NCDC situation report on its website revealed that at least 16 healthcare workers had been infected with Lassa fever as of 23rd February, 2025.
Physician’s case
Speaking on the case of the deceased doctor, NCDC said, he travelled to the UK on 19 February and returned to Nigeria on 27 February.
The doctor came down with some symptoms that led to his admission in one private health facility in Ondo State, where samples were taken on 28 February, but he passed away before his test result confirmed Lassa fever.
“Samples were taken late on Friday, 28 February on a suspicion of Lassa fever, but the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 1 March,” NCDC stated. “The laboratory investigation returned a result was Lassa Fever positive on PCR on Tuesday, 4 March.”
Although, NCDC said that the diseased physician had travelled to Edo State to visit his fiancée, as well as family and friends, before returning to Ondo.
In compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), NCDC said it has informed UK health Security Agency, UKHSA.
According to the NCDC, UKHSA has placed some individuals under surveillance due to the physician’s recent travel history.
Meanwhile, UKHSA has assured the public that Lassa fever does not spread easily between people and that makes the overall risk minimum.
Ongoing response
To step up the emergency response by both state and international level of control and management efforts, NCDC highlighted ongoing response efforts and international coordination.
It noted that the Ondo State Ministry of Health has set up a control and management efforts through contact tracing and identification line of confirmed case.
NCDC in the interim said it has engaged Port Health Services to monitor individuals who were on the same flight as the deceased.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodents or contaminated food and household items.
It’s a communicable disease that can spread from person to person, particularly in healthcare settings with inadequate infection control measures.
Symptoms of Lassa fever include fever, headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest pain, muscle pain, and sore throat. In severe cases, there could be bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings
NCDC noted that “Preventing Lassa fever is a shared responsibility. Together, we can reduce the spread of this disease and save lives”.
NCDC urged the general public to report suspected cases promptly to local Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers for immediate response and management.
