A freshly qualified doctor who treated a Lassa fever patient in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kaduna has died of the disease, local authorities said on Friday.

The doctor, Kelechi Ogboji, died on Feb. 20, more than two weeks after he was infected, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said.

The virus has killed more than 100 people and infected over 200 others in Nigeria since November 2015 in what is considered the worst outbreak in the past four years.

Ogboji was serving an NYSC scheme, which organizes fresh graduates for voluntary services.

He worked at a private hospital in Zango Kataf district of Kaduna state, where he treated a Lassa fever patient.

Tests have confirmed Ogboji's death was a case of Lassa fever, family sources told Xinhua.

Lassa fever is an acute and often fatal viral disease, occurring mainly in West Africa. It is usually transmitted by contact with saliva or excreta of rats in homes and food stores.

Nigerian authorities have said they are capable of putting the virus under control, noting there is a high survival rate for those diagnosed early. Endit

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