NCDC confirms UK returnee died of Lassa fever

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the death of a 31-year-old physician who succumbed to Lassa fever after returning from the United Kingdom.

In an advisory issued on Sunday, the NCDC reported that the total number of confirmed Lassa fever cases has now reached 535, with 98 fatalities recorded across 14 states as of March 2, 2025.

The NCDC noted that the Ondo State Ministry of Health first alerted the agency about the confirmed case on March 5. According to the NCDC, the physician “departed Nigeria on 19/02/2025 and returned on 27/02/2025.” Samples were taken on February 28, 2025, after Lassa fever was suspected, but the physician “unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 01/03/2025.”

Investigations revealed that the deceased had visited his fiancée in Edo State, as well as family and friends, prior to falling ill. The NCDC confirmed that “laboratory investigation confirmed the result as Lassa fever-positive through PCR testing on Tuesday, 04/03/2025.”

As of epidemiological week 9 (February 24 to March 2, 2025), the NCDC reported 2,728 suspected cases of Lassa fever, with 535 confirmed infections and 98 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 18.3%. The majority of confirmed cases—91%—are concentrated in five states: Ondo (31%), Bauchi (24%), Edo (17%), Taraba (16%), and Ebonyi (3%). Ten local government areas, including Owo, Akure South, and Bauchi, account for 68% of the cases.

In response, the Ondo State Ministry of Health has heightened containment measures, including intensive contact tracing and monitoring individuals who had close contact with the deceased. The NCDC has also activated national response mechanisms, including enhanced surveillance at entry points in collaboration with Port Health Services. Additionally, relevant health authorities in the UK have been informed as part of international health regulations.