NCDC tracks 357 contacts after UK returnee dies of Lassa Fever

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed 357 people under medical surveillance following the death of a 31-year-old physician who succumbed to Lassa fever just days after returning from the United Kingdom.

The doctor, who arrived in Nigeria on February 27, 2025, passed away on March 1 after being treated at a private health facility in Ondo State. His tragic death has amplified fears of further spread, as the NCDC confirmed he had traveled to Edo State to visit his fiancée and spent time with family and friends before his condition deteriorated.

“Laboratory investigation confirmed the result as Lassa fever-positive through PCR testing on Tuesday, March 4, 2025,” the NCDC said in a statement.

The physician’s death is just one in a growing epidemic. As of March 2, the NCDC reported that Lassa fever had infected 535 people from 2,728 suspected cases across 13 states and 75 local government areas. The death toll has now surpassed 100, with a case fatality rate of 18.7%.

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Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected multimammate rats — the virus’s natural reservoir. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

Although the disease is present year-round, the NCDC noted that peak transmission typically occurs between October and May.

The current outbreak has hit some states harder than others. Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo account for 72% of all confirmed cases, with Ondo reporting 31%, Bauchi 24%, and Edo 17%.

The virus’s reach has spread widely, with confirmed cases recorded in:

Ondo: 168 cases, 21 deaths
Bauchi: 128 cases, 10 deaths
Edo: 93 cases, 15 deaths
Taraba: 83 cases, 26 deaths
Ebonyi: 17 cases, eight deaths
Kogi: 14 cases, four deaths
Gombe: 11 cases, six deaths
Plateau: Nine cases, three deaths
Benue: Five cases, three deaths
Nasarawa: Three cases, three deaths
Cross River: Two cases, one death
Delta and Enugu: One case each, no reported deaths
The NCDC also disclosed that 17 healthcare workers have been infected in the line of duty: eight in Ondo, four in Bauchi, two each in Taraba and Gombe, and one in Edo.

The human toll of the outbreak has been devastating, with young adults aged 21 to 30 bearing the brunt of the infections. The virus has proven nearly indiscriminate, affecting individuals as young as one and as old as 94.

While the NCDC reported a slight decrease in new confirmed cases from 54 in week eight of 2025 to 29 in week nine, the situation remains precarious. The agency has activated the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts at all levels.

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