The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has said the country has recorded 1,025 confirmed cases and 174 deaths from Lassa fever in 28 states of the federation from January to October 6.
The NCDC, in its latest report on the Lassa fever situation, noted that cumulatively from week 1 to 40, deaths were recorded with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.0 percent, which is the same as the cases recorded in the same period in 2023.
The NCDC report for week 40 covering September 30 to October 6 also noted a decrease in the number of confirmed cases from nine in week 39 to seven in the reporting week.
The report also noted that there were two deaths in the reporting week.
According to reports, 68 percent of all confirmed cases in 2024 came from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi, while 32 percent were reported from 25 states.
He also specified that the number of suspected cases in 2024 (8,484) increased compared to that reported in the same period of 2023 (7,621).
More details
According to the NCDC, no healthcare workers were affected during the reporting week, adding that the age group predominantly affected by Lassa fever is 21 to 30 years.
Article page with financial support promotion
The NCDC added that the multi-sector, multi-partner National Incident Management System against Lassa Fever has been activated to coordinate the response at all levels at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
The agency also listed some of the challenges in its fight against Lassa fever across the country, listing; late presentation of cases leading to increased infant mortality rate and poor health care seeking behavior due to high cost of treatment and clinical management.
Other challenges are poor environmental sanitation conditions and lack of awareness reported to be seen in high-burden communities.