In a shocking and tragic development a 31-year-old Nigerian doctor who recently returned from the United Kingdom has died from Lassa fever raising urgent questions about the country’s failing disease surveillance and healthcare system.The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed the physician’s death on March 1, 2025 just days after he arrived back in the country.
According to reports, the doctor visited his fiancée in Edo State and met with family and friends before falling ill, potentially exposing dozens of people to the highly contagious viral disease. Despite exhibiting symptoms, his samples were only taken late on February 28 and confirmation of Lassa fever only came three days after his death further exposing glaring lapses in Nigeria’s disease response system.
With 535 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 98 deaths already recorded across 14 states in 2025 critics argue that the Nigerian government has failed to curb the virus despite it being a recurring epidemic. Shockingly, five states alone account for 91% of cases, with Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi bearing the brunt of the outbreak.
The delayed testing and response in this case raise serious concerns about whether Nigeria’s health authorities are doing enough to prevent future fatalities, especially given the deadly virus’s 18.3% fatality rate.
With Lassa fever cases continuing to surge, Nigerians are left asking: Is the government doing enough to protect its citizens, or are more lives at risk due to a failing public health system?
