The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Confirms Lassa Fever Death of UK Returnee, Raising Toll to 98″

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

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

According to the NCDC, the physician, who “was managed at a private health facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad,” passed away in the early hours of March 1, 2025, before lab tests confirmed the diagnosis.

This brings the total number of confirmed Lassa fever deaths to 98 across 14 states, with a cumulative 535 cases reported from 2,728 suspected instances as of March 2, 2025.

The NCDC’s report highlights that “five states account for 91 percent of confirmed cases,” with Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi leading the figures.

To curb the spread, the NCDC has stepped up efforts including “contact tracing and monitoring, both domestically and internationally.”

The agency has worked alongside international health bodies to trace contacts, even in the UK, as part of its coordinated response to the outbreak.

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Chioma Ndukwu

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