Lassa Fever: Medical doctor, 97 others confirmed dead, says NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reiterated the looming urgency for Nigerians to keep an environment free of rats through personal hygiene, due to the devastating outbreak of Lassa Fever in the country.

The agency’s Director General, Jide Idris, disclosed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, noting that the disease had claimed a total of 98 lives in 2025, including a medical doctor.

He said the havoc caused by the disease was massive.

He therefore urged all to take preventive measures to curb the situation.

He said there was need for Nigerians to begin to take preventive measure such as proper waste disposal, sealing food in airtight containers, and blocking rats point of entry into the rooms.

Jide said that the public health advisory became necessary due to the alarming case of fatality rate 18.3% as of epidemiological week 9 (February 24 – March 2, 2025).

Providing details on the deceased medical doctor, he said that he was diagnosed in Ondo State, but unfortunately he succumbed to the disease before the test results confirmed that the infection were present in his body.

However, the D.G assured that intensed measures had been put in place by the Ondo State Ministry of Health in order to trace and monitor all possible contacts of the deceased doctor.

He also said that the National Health Authorities have mobilised response efforts, including surveillance at immigration points and coordination with International Health Agencies.