The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the death of a 31-year-old physician who died from Lassa fever after returning from the United Kingdom.
He was managed at a private health facility in Ondo state for three days.
Samples taken returned positive for Lassa fever on Tuesday 4th of March 2023 after his death.
The patient was said to have visited his fiancée in Edo state, as well as family and friends before traveling.
In a health advisory sent out on the 9th of march, the NCDC says the Ondo state ministry of Health has strengthened control and management efforts through contact tracing and line listing of contacts of the confirmed case, it is also mobilizing all necessary in-country structures to ensure all possible contacts are traced and monitored, Port Health Services involvement in contact tracing and line listing of in-flight contacts to bolster surveillance efforts at the points of entry.
It also reveals that Information is shared with all relevant authorities in line with the International Health Regulations (2005), and contact tracing efforts also ongoing in the UK
The agency also reported that the cumulative number of Lassa fever cases has risen to 535 out of 2,728 suspected cases, with 98 deaths recorded across 14 states in Nigeria as of March 2, 2025.
