Monday, March 10, 2025 - The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the de@th of a 31-year-old physician who d!ed from Lassa fever disease weeks after he returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa
virus and carried around by multimammate rat (also known as the African rat),
although other rodents can also act as carriers
In a public advisory issued on Sunday, March 9, the NCDC said the man
passed away on March 1.
“On March 5, 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
was notified of a confirmed case of Lassa fever by the Ondo State Ministry of
Health. The patient, a 31-year-old physician, was managed at a private health
facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad (UK).
The patient departed Nigeria on 19/02/2025 and returned on 27/02/2025.
Samples were taken late on Friday, 28/02/2025, on suspicion of Lassa fever, but
the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday,
01/03/2025.
Laboratory investigation confirmed the result as Lassa fever-positive
through PCR testing on Tuesday, 04/03/2025. The patient was reported to have
visited his fiancée in Edo State, as well as family and friends, before
travelling.”
The public health institute stated that Lassa fever cases occur
year-round, with peak transmission periods typically from October to May.
“As of Epi-week 9 (February 24, to March 2, 2025), a total of 2,728
suspected cases, 535 confirmed cases, and 98 deaths have been recorded across
14 states in Nigeria, with a case fatality rate of 18.3 per cent.
Five states account for 91 per cent of confirmed cases: Ondo (31 per
cent), Bauchi (24 per cent), Edo (17 per cent), Taraba (16 per cent), and
Ebonyi (3 per cent).
Ten local government areas make up 68 per cent of confirmed cases,
namely: Owo, Akure South, Etsako West, Kirfi, Akoko South-West, Bali, Esan
North-East, Bauchi, Toro, and Jalingo.” the NCDC said
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