By Gwurld4026 
Medical Professional’s Untimely Death Due to Lassa Fever
A 31-year-old Nigerian physician recently died from Lassa fever after returning from a trip to the United Kingdom. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the doctor departed Nigeria on February 19, 2025, and returned on February 27. Shortly after his return, he developed symptoms and was admitted to a private health facility in Ondo State. Samples were collected on February 28 on suspicion of Lassa fever, but he unfortunately passed away in the early hours of March 1, before the test results confirmed the infection on March 4.
Prior to his illness, the physician had visited his fiancée in Edo State, as well as family and friends, raising concerns about potential exposure. Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected rodents. Person-to-person transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings with inadequate infection control measures.
As of March 2, 2025, Nigeria has recorded 2,728 suspected cases, with 535 confirmed infections and 98 deaths across 14 states, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.3%. The states most affected include Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi, which together account for 91% of confirmed cases.
In response to this incident, the NCDC has activated measures such as case management, contact tracing, and enhanced surveillance in affected states. The agency urges the public to maintain proper hygiene, store food securely, and avoid contact with rodents to prevent further spread of the disease.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been informed of the physician’s travel history and is conducting contact tracing for individuals who were in contact with him while he was in England. The UKHSA assures that Lassa fever does not spread easily between people, and the overall risk to the UK population is very low.