A fresh public health emergency has been declared in Nigeria following the confirmation of yet another fatality linked to Lassa fever. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced the death of a 31-year-old Nigerian doctor who recently traveled to the United Kingdom before returning to the country. This development has raised urgent concerns over the persistent threat of the viral hemorrhagic fever and the potential risk of cross-border transmission, reinforcing the need for heightened surveillance, immediate containment efforts and stronger global cooperation to curb the spread of infectious diseases.
The deceased physician had traveled to the UK on February 19, 2025, and returned to Nigeria on February 27, 2025. Shortly after his arrival, he developed severe symptoms consistent with Lassa fever and was admitted to a private hospital in Ondo State. Despite medical efforts to stabilize his condition, he succumbed to the illness on March 1, 2025, before the official confirmation of his test results. The NCDC later verified on March 4, 2025, that the doctor had been infected with Lassa fever. His death has not only heightened anxiety among health professionals but has also triggered a swift response from both Nigerian and UK health authorities who are now working together to trace all potential contacts and limit the spread of the deadly virus.
The confirmation of this latest fatality underscores the growing burden of Lassa fever in Nigeria. According to the NCDC’s latest epidemiological report, the country has recorded a staggering 2,728 suspected cases and 535 confirmed infections since the beginning of 2025, with 98 deaths reported across 14 states. The current case fatality rate has risen to 18.3 percent, demonstrating the severity of the disease and the urgent need for enhanced containment strategies. The most affected states remain Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi, which together account for 91 percent of all confirmed cases. In particular, local government areas such as Owo, Akure South, Etsako West, Kirfi, Akoko South-West, Bali, Esan North-East, Bauchi, Toro and Jalingo have been identified as the epicenters of the outbreak, with hospitals and medical facilities in these areas struggling to manage the influx of patients suffering from the disease.
The international health community is now paying closer attention to the ongoing crisis in Nigeria following revelations that the deceased physician had traveled to the UK just days before his diagnosis. The concern over potential exposure to individuals in both countries has prompted a collaborative response between the NCDC and UK health authorities to conduct extensive contact tracing efforts. Public health officials are currently monitoring individuals who may have had close interactions with the deceased before his death, including family members, healthcare workers, and passengers who shared the same flights with him. At Nigeria’s major airports, port health services have been instructed to intensify surveillance measures to prevent further international transmission.
Lassa fever is a severe viral hemorrhagic disease primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine, feces or saliva of infected rodents, particularly the multimammate rat, which is common in West Africa. However, human-to-human transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings where infection prevention and control measures are inadequate. This latest case has once again highlighted the dangers posed to frontline healthcare workers who are at an increased risk of contracting the virus due to prolonged exposure to infected patients.
In response to the worsening crisis, the NCDC, in partnership with the Ondo State Ministry of Health, has deployed rapid response teams to affected areas to contain the outbreak. The agency has launched intensified awareness campaigns to educate communities about proper hygiene practices, rodent control measures and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention for symptoms associated with Lassa fever. Public health officials continue to emphasize that early detection and treatment are critical in improving survival rates and reducing fatalities linked to the disease.
The growing number of Lassa fever cases has exposed significant gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure. Despite repeated outbreaks of the disease over the years, the country has continued to struggle with limited diagnostic capacity, inadequate isolation facilities and insufficient medical supplies to manage severe cases. Many hospitals in affected regions lack the resources to provide optimal care to Lassa fever patients, resulting in avoidable deaths. Medical experts and public health advocates have long warned that Nigeria needs to invest heavily in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and healthcare infrastructure to prevent recurring epidemics. The high fatality rate of Lassa fever is a stark reminder that without urgent intervention, the country will continue to face serious challenges in containing future outbreaks.
Beyond Nigeria’s borders, the latest case has renewed concerns about the potential for international transmission of Lassa fever. As global travel continues to increase, health authorities worldwide are now under pressure to implement stronger measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases across countries. The World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have expressed concerns over the rapid transmission of the virus and have called for enhanced international cooperation to combat the disease. The case of the deceased Nigerian doctor has served as a grim reminder that in today’s interconnected world, localized outbreaks can quickly escalate into global health emergencies if not managed effectively.
With Lassa fever continuing to spread, the NCDC has reiterated its call for Nigerians to adopt preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection. The public is urged to maintain high standards of hygiene, store food properly to prevent contamination by rodents, and avoid direct contact with individuals suspected to be infected with Lassa fever. Healthcare workers have been advised to follow strict infection prevention and control protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment when treating suspected cases. The government has also been encouraged to allocate additional resources to support medical facilities in high-risk areas and strengthen laboratory testing capacity to improve early detection of the disease.
The rising death toll from Lassa fever is a grave warning that urgent action is needed to contain the virus before it escalates further. The loss of a young physician who had dedicated his life to saving others is a painful reminder of the devastating impact of the disease. This is a critical moment for Nigeria’s health authorities to reinforce their response efforts and for global stakeholders to collaborate in finding long-term solutions to combat Lassa fever. The failure to act decisively could have catastrophic consequences not only for Nigeria but for the broader international community.
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