A recent report by Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control and Prevention (NCDC) indicates that Lassa fever still lingers in 23 states including Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Plateau and Nasarawa among others.
The centre says it recorded 784 cases of Lassa fever with 142 deaths across the states in less than three months. The infections, according to data obtained from NCDC’s website were recorded from January 1 till date.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.
The NCDC said in Epidemiological Week 11, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 70 in Week 10 of 2023 to 38 cases.
It said the cases were reported from Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, Rivers, Plateau and Nasarawa States.
It said cumulatively from Epidemiological Week 1 to Week 11, 142 deaths had been reported with Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.1 per cent which was lower than the 18.7 per cent CFR for the same period in 2022.
The NCDC said 23 states had recorded at least one confirmed case across 97 local government areas.
It said that 71 per cent of all new confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi while 29 per cent came from six states.
It said of the 71 per cent, Ondo reported 32 per cent, Edo, 29 and Bauchi, 10.
According to the NCDC, the predominant age group affected is 21-30 years with the median age as 32 years.
It said the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases was 1:0.9.
It also said the number of suspected cases increased compared to the number reported for the same period in 2022.
The NCDC said that a healthcare worker was affected in Week 11. (NAN)
