Lassa fever: FG, after UK returnee’s death, tracks 357 suspected patients
FILE PHOTO: Lassa fever
FG, after UK returnee’s death, tracks 357 suspected patients
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has listed 357 persons for follow-up over the possibility of being infected with Lassa fever.
This is following the death of a 31-year-old physician who returned from the United Kingdom on February 27, 2025, and died of Lassa fever on March 1, 2025.
The physician was said to have been managed at a private health facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad.
“Laboratory investigation confirmed the result as Lassa fever-positive through PCR testing on Tuesday, 04/03/2025. The patient was reported to have visited his fiancée in Edo State, as well as family and friends, before travelling,” the centre stated.
Data obtained from the NCDC on Wednesday showed that 535 persons have been infected with the disease out of the 2,728 suspected cases across 13 states, and 75 local government areas.
It also noted that over 100 persons have been killed as of March 2, 2025, with a case fatality rate of 18.7 per cent.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.
The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat), although other rodents can also act as carriers.
The public health institute stated that Lassa fever cases occur year-round, with peak transmission periods typically from October to May.
The data for week nine of the year revealed that the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 54 in week 8, of 2025 to 29, and the cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Cross River, Nasarawa and Enugu states.
The report partly read, “Cumulatively in Week 9, 2025, 100 deaths have been reported with a CRF of 18.7 per cent which is marginally lower than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.8 per cent).
“In total for 2025, 13 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 75 LGAs. 72 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo) while 28 per cent were reported from 10 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 72 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 31 per cent, Bauchi 24 per cent, and Edo 17 per cent.
“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 94 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8. The number of suspected cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.”
Meanwhile, so far in 2025, 17 healthcare workers have been infected with the disease in Ondo (eight), Bauchi (four), Edo (one), Taraba (two), and Gombe (two).
The confirmed cases were confirmed in Ondo (168), Bauchi (128), Edo (93), Taraba (83), Ebonyi (17), Kogi (14), Gombe (11), Plateau (nine), Benue (five), Nasarawa (three), Cross-River (two), Delta (one), and Enugu (one).
The deaths were recorded in Ondo (21), Bauchi (10), Edo (15), Taraba (26), Ebonyi (eight), Kogi (four), Gombe (six), Plateau (three), Benue (three), Nasarawa (three), and Cross River (one).
The NCDC added that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels.
