The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed a new case of Lassa fever in a 31-year-old physician who recently traveled to the United Kingdom. The patient, diagnosed in Ondo State, unfortunately succumbed to the disease before the test results confirming the infection were available.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. He raised an alert on the situation, stressing the need for heightened surveillance and precautionary measures.
According to the NCDC’s latest epidemiological report, Nigeria has recorded 2,728 suspected cases and 535 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2025, with 98 deaths across 14 states. The case fatality rate stands at 18.3%, with Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states accounting for 91% of all confirmed cases.
The confirmed case involved a Nigerian physician who traveled to the UK on February 19, 2025, and returned on February 27, 2025. He was admitted to a private health facility in Ondo State with symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever. Samples were taken on February 28, but the patient passed away on March 1 before test results were confirmed.
Investigation revealed that the deceased had visited his fiancée in Edo State before his UK trip and had also met with family and friends. Contact tracing efforts have since been launched in both Nigeria and the UK to curb further spread of the disease.
In response to the case, the NCDC, in collaboration with the Ondo State Ministry of Health, has intensified contact tracing, surveillance, and infection control measures. Port Health Services are also enhancing surveillance at entry points, particularly airports, while collaboration with UK health authorities ensures cross-border tracking of potential exposures.
Dr. Idris reiterated public health guidelines to prevent further outbreaks, urging Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, control rodent populations, and seek early medical intervention for suspected cases.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease primarily spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings with inadequate infection prevention and control measures.
The NCDC continues to monitor disease patterns and deploy rapid response teams to affected areas, with specialized treatment centers providing care for severe cases. Public awareness campaigns are ongoing, educating communities on rodent control, food safety, and early symptom reporting.
