NCDC reports 20 deaths from Lassa Fever in 16 states

In a span of one week, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported new cases of Lassa fever and a total of 20 deaths across 16 states.

This period of concern ranges from February 26 to March 3. The NCDC has observed an increase in confirmed cases from 96 in the previous week, according to their official website. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness that is transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated rodents or individuals.

Symptoms of this illness include fever, headache, sore throat, weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pains, chest pain, and in severe cases, unexplained bleeding from various body openings. Despite efforts to combat the disease, Nigeria continues to face new cases and fatalities, highlighting the persistent threat posed by Lassa fever.

In the reported week, the country registered a total of 109 cases. From week one to nine, Nigeria has recorded 682 confirmed cases and 128 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.8%, which is higher than the rate for the same period in 2023.

The number of suspected cases has also increased compared to the previous year, and eight healthcare workers were affected during week 9.

The affected states include Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun, and Oyo. The majority of confirmed cases were reported in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, accounting for 62% of all cases, while the remaining 38% were spread across 24 states. The age group most affected by Lassa fever was 31 to 40 years, and the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases was 1:0.9.