Health
BREAKING: Lassa fever: UK visitor tests positive as death toll hits 98 in 2 months

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed a Lassa fever case with a travel history to the United Kingdom.
The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, in a public advisory on Monday, said the agency was notified on 5th of March of a confirmed case of Lassa fever by the Ondo State Ministry of Health, in a 31-year-old physician managed at a private health facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad (UK).
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) caused by the Lassa virus. The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat). Other rodents can also act as carriers of the virus.
Dr Idris said the patient departed Nigeria on February 19 and returned February 27, adding that samples were taken late on Friday, February 28 on a suspicion of Lassa fever, but the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, March 1.
He said the laboratory investigation returned a result that was Lassa Fever positive on PCR on Tuesday March 4, adding that “The patient was said to have visited his fiancée in Edo State, as well as family and friends before travelling. “
The NCDC DG said to enhance state and international level coordination of all control and management efforts, some steps had been taken.
“Ondo State Ministry of Health has bolstered control and management efforts through contact tracing and line listing of contacts of the confirmed case.
“All necessary in-country structures have been mobilized to ensure all possible contacts are traced and monitored. Communicated to the Port Health Services to support contact tracing and line listing of contacts and bolster surveillance efforts at the point of entries and exits (information include patient’s biodata, flight details etc. shared).
“Information shared with all relevant authorities in line with the International Health Regulations (2005), and contact tracing efforts also on-going in the UK,” he stated.
The NCDC boss explained that a total of 2728 Lassa fever suspected cases; 535 confirmed cases and 98 deaths have been recorded across 14 states in Nigeria (Case Fatality Rate 18.3%) since the beginning of this year.
He said five states account for 91% of confirmed cases: Ondo: 31%, Bauchi: 24%, Edo: 17%, Taraba: 16% and Ebonyi: 3%.
He said, “Ten (10) LGAs make up 68% of confirmed cases, namely Owo, Akure South, Etsako West, Kirfi, Akoko South West, Bali, Esan North East, Bauchi, Toro and Jalingo. “
He said while NCDC leads the prevention, preparedness, and response to public health emergencies, state governments are also critical in implementing their outbreak response plans tailored to their specific geographical needs.
“And we will continue to support them. However, this responsibility, being a collective one, members of the public also have a role to play,” he said.
He further advised members of the public to
always keep their environment clean, especially their homes, markets, dump sites to reduce breeding grounds for rats
He said, “Block all holes in your house to prevent the entry of rats and other rodents.
“Cover your dustbins and dispose of refuse or waste properly. Communities should set up dump sites far from their homes to reduce the chances of the entry of rodents into their homes.
“Safely store food items such as rice, garri, beans, corn/maize, etc., in tightly sealed or well-covered containers. And avoid open drying of food stuff. Properly process or prepare rats (bushmeat) before consumption. Avoid drying food stuff outside on the ground or roadside, where it is at risk of contamination.
“Discourage bush burning and Deforestation as these can destroy the homes and food sources of rodents, driving them to migrate from the bushes to human residences to find food.
“Eliminate rats in homes and communities by setting rat traps and other appropriate and safe means. Practice good personal and hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap under running water or using hand sanitizers when necessary.”
While advising people to avoid overcrowded living areas as overcrowding leads to poor sanitation, he said they should also avoid self-medication to ensure proper diagnosis and early treatment.
“Visit the nearest health facility if you notice any of the signs and symptoms associated with Lassa fever mentioned earlier or call the State Ministry of Health hotline and 6232 (NCDC),” he added.
Health
Aliko Dangote Foundation Donates Ambulance to Mainland Hospital Yaba
The donated ambulance is expected to greatly improve the hospital’s emergency response capabilities, enabling swift mobility for critical cases and enhancing overall efficiency in disease outbreak responses.

the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has donated a brand-new ambulance to Mainland Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
The donated ambulance is expected to greatly improve the hospital’s emergency response capabilities, enabling swift mobility for critical cases and enhancing overall efficiency in disease outbreak responses.
The hospital’s MD/CEO, Dr. Adejumo Adedeji Olusola, said that the donation has addressed a longstanding challenge, allowing the hospital to perform tasks that were previously impossible.
“We are really grateful, and our sincere gratitude goes to Mr. Aliko Dangote. We lacked an ambulance for about 10 years, but now we have one we can boast of thanks to Mr. Aliko Dangote,” Dr. Olusola said.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation has been at the forefront of major health interventions in Nigeria, including efforts to combat malnutrition, polio, and pandemic outbreaks.
This donation reflects the foundation’s broader mission to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.
Dr. Francis Aminu, Director of Health and Nutrition at ADF, emphasized the foundation’s dedication to improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly in the health sector.
“What we do at ADF isn’t just charity, it’s a duty. We believe that every Nigerian life is valuable, and health is the foundation on which all other aspirations are built; no Nigerian should be left behind due to a lack of access to essential health resources,” he stated.
Health
Sufferer of Kidney Failure, Sewanu, Needs Your Help
Dialisys is 55k per session at Gbagada hospital but in some places it’s over 130k. So this is how I have been doing it since until later I was told at the hospital to go for kidney transplant but before I go for transplant, I will still be doing my dialisys twice a week.

Shared by Dr Love , on X (Twitter):
My name is Hosu moses sewanu, a native of Ipokia local government in ogun state, was born and raised in Lagos state .
My dad is late, I still have my mum and am the second out of the family of 3.
It all started late 2023, I woke one morning and I noticed that the left side of my head was seriously pounding so I took paracetamol just like the normal thing thinking it was just an ordinary headache but after taking the paracetamol few minute later the headache started again to the extent that it was difficult for me to turn my neck so I managed it like that for about 3 days but when the aching didn’t stop I had to call my mum to tell her what I was facing so she said to me that I should try and come over to her place, on getting to my mum’s place.
She decided that I have to go to Randle general hospital that I should go and complain there about my health.
Immediately I got to Randle, checking my blood pressure level, it was very high and I was referred to the emergency department for quick response, at the emergency, I was required to do some laboratory tests which I did.
So I was admitted immediately for about 4 days, later the doctor told me to go and redo the same test again at another laboratory center outside the hospital. When the results came out, it was reading that I am having chronic kidney failure.
When I was told about the situation, my entire body was very buttered that I almost run mad.
When my mum came. She was also told the same thing then I was referred to gbagada general hospital for proper treatment and to be seeing a neufrologist that is the specialist doctor for kidney cases.
So I started visiting gbagada hospital for check ups and clinic days. By that time my body have not started noticing it like that nor until late 2024
I started feeling very weak, I don’t sleep at night, I couldn’t eat like that, my entire body was down.
So I tried going back to the hospital at Gbagada, there I was admitted instantly and they started the treatment process, later on, I was told to start dialisys, that I should do five, so I started dialisysing at Gbagada hospital at first It was five. After doing the five, I was told to start another five again .
Making it 10 sessions ater doing the 10th session I was discharged home just to be attending the clinic alone, later I was told at the clinic that I should not stop the dialisys that this time, I have to be doing it twice a week.
Dialisys is 55k per session at Gbagada hospital but in some places it’s over 130k. So this is how I have been doing it since until later I was told at the hospital to go for kidney transplant but before I go for transplant, I will still be doing my dialisys twice a week.
So far now, I have done 23 sessions of dialisys and still counting. As it is now, I don’t work again, I can’t even do anything now, even to move around like before is really difficult because the whole thing have started manifesting I mean my body can’t carry me like before.
I am in very severe pain, the drugs prescribed for me by the doctors are very expensive and they are much all are compulsory for me to buy.
Hmm I pray that God should send me help from above, a miracle is what I am expecting.
This is the little I can say about my state of health now.
0119741433 GT bank account, Hosu Moses sewanu
Or
1229255323 Zenith bank
Health
JUST IN: Ogun confirms Lassa fever outbreak as NYSC member dies

A 25-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), has reportedly died of Lassa fever at a secondary health facility in ljebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
It wwas learnt that the female corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State, was brought to the health facility last Tuesday and later died same day.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, on Wednesday.
Coker also confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.
The statement reads, “Ogun State has confirmed a case of Lassa Fever and as such declared Lassa fever outbreak.
“The index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth Corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State and was brought to on of our secondary health facility in ljebu North LGA on 18th March 2025 and later died same day.
“ Lassa fever is a viral Haemorrhagic disease that presents with High grade fever, Headache, General body weakness, Sore throat, Muscle pain, Cough, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Chest pain and Unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.
”Coker urged members of the community to report to the hospital if any of the listed symptoms is noticed.
“We implore members of the community to promptly report to the hospital if they notice any of these symptoms.
Any case of febrile illness that has not responded to 48 hours use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should raise an index of suspicion for Lassa fever!
“We implore all Health facilities in Ogun State, public and private, to step up Infection Prevention and Control measures and to encourage compliance by all health facility staff.“
Healthcare worker that suspects Lassa fever in a patient, are advised to call their local government disease surveillance and notification officer (LGA DSNO) whose numbers are placed in our health facilities or call State Disease surveillance and Notification Officer (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881),” she added.
The commissioner, however reiterated the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s dedication to protecting the health of the citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases.
She added that the ministry in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team at ljebu North East is keeping the situation under control with enhanced surveillance and community engagement and mobilization for effective response.
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