Lassa fever kills 31-year-old doctor in Ondo

Lassa fever has claimed the life of a medical doctor in Ondo State, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed.

The 31-year-old physician was initially treated at a private health facility in Ondo before traveling to the United Kingdom. Upon his return, he succumbed to the illness.

NCDC Director-General Jide Idris disclosed this in a public advisory issued on Monday.

“On March 5, 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was notified by the Ondo State Ministry of Health of a confirmed Lassa fever case. The patient, a 31-year-old doctor, had returned from a trip abroad (UK) and was managed at a private health facility in Ondo State.

“The patient left Nigeria on February 19, 2025, and returned on February 27, 2025. Samples were collected late on Friday, February 28, on suspicion of Lassa fever, but unfortunately, he passed away in the early hours of Saturday, March 1,” the NCDC statement read.

The agency confirmed that laboratory tests conducted on March 4, 2025, returned a positive result for Lassa fever. Before traveling abroad, the deceased had visited his fiancée in Edo State, along with family and friends.

Mr. Idris stated that health authorities have begun tracing individuals who had contact with the deceased, including passengers from his flight, to prevent further spread of the virus.

According to the NCDC, 535 cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed out of 2,728 suspected cases this year, with 98 deaths recorded so far.

The states most affected include Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi.

Mr. Idris urged the public to take preventive measures by keeping their surroundings clean, storing food in sealed containers, covering dustbins, and blocking holes to prevent rats from entering homes.