Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was notified of a confirmed case of Lassa fever by the Ondo State Ministry of Health.
It has been reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention that a physician, who was 31 years old, passed away from Lassa fever disease.
His death occurred several weeks after he returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said on Sunday, March 9, that the man had gone away on March 1.
“On March 5, 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was notified of a confirmed case of Lassa fever by the Ondo State Ministry of Health.
“The patient, a 31-year-old physician, was managed at a private health facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad (UK).
“The patient departed Nigeria on 19/02/2025 and returned on 27/02/2025. Samples were taken late on Friday, 28/02/2025, on suspicion of Lassa fever, but the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 01/03/2025.
“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.”
IREPORT247NEW reported that a total of 506 Lassa fever cases were confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on March 5. Out of a total of 2,492 suspected instances of the disease.
As of February 23, 2025, there were 95 fatalities connected to the epidemic. During the eighth week of the hemorrhagic fever outbreak, the status report revealed that the disease had spread to a total of twelve states and seventy local government areas, with a Case Fatality Ratio of 18.8 percent respectively.
It was claimed that there were confirmed cases in 12 states. Ondo (160), Bauchi (122), Edo (88), Taraba (80). Ebonyi (15), Kogi (14), Gombe (11), Plateau (seven), Benue (five), Nasarawa (two), Delta (one), and Cross-River: one.
Part of the statement reads, “In week eight, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 38 in epi week seven, of 2025 to 54.
“These were reported in Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi States.“Cumulatively in week 8, 2025, 95 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.8 per cent which is the same CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.8 per cent).
“In total for 2025, 12 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 70 Local Government Areas. 73 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Bauchi and Edo). While 27 per cent were reported from nine states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.”