The Federal Government has confirmed the death of a 31-year-old physician who returned from the United Kingdom from Lassa Fever.
The deceased, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said was being managed at a private clinic in Ondo before he succumbed to the disease.
According to the NCDC, samples were taken from the patient on Friday, February 28, 2025, on suspicion of Lassa Fever but he passed in the early hours of Saturday, March 1.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and is usually found and spread by multimammate rat. The multimammate rate, also known as the African rat is the major reservoir for the virus although other rodents can also act as carriers.
Details of the advisory by the NCDC showed that, the affected victim of the disease departed Nigeria on February 19, 2025 and returned to the country on February 27, 2025.
In an advisory released in Monday, March 10, the NCDC said, “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).”
“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,” NCDC advisory stated.
The centre further noted that so far, cases of Lassa Fever in the country has risen to 535 out of 2,728 suspected cases.
Ninety-eight of the recorded cases across 14 states have resulted in fatalities as of March 2, 2025.
