The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 98 fatalities from Lassa fever disease since the beginning of 2025.
The NCDC epidemiological report for week nine (February 24–March 2, 2025) revealed that the country has recorded 2,728 suspected cases, out of which 535 have been confirmed with 98 deaths across 14 States.
The case fatality rate stands at 18.3 per cent, with five States; Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi accounting for 91 per cent of confirmed cases.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris also confirmed the death of a 31-year-old physician who recently returned from the United Kingdom and was diagnosed with Lassa fever.
Dr Idris in a public advisory on Monday said the deceased had travelled abroad on February 19, 2025 and returned to Nigeria on February 27 and was treated at a private facility in Ondo State after feeling ill.
According to him, a sample was collected on February 28, but before the test result could confirm his infection, he passed away in the early hours of March 1, stressing that Laboratory results later confirmed Lassa fever on March 4.
Due to the death of the physician, health authorities in Ondo State have launched extensive contact tracing operations to identify those who may have been exposed, and also working with Port Health Services to monitor in-flight contacts and collaborating with UK health officials to ensure international coordination under the International Health Regulations (2005).
The NCDC, therefore, urged Nigerians to take preventive measures to curb the spread of Lassa fever, emphasizing that preventing Lassa fever is a shared responsibility.
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