The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has today revealed that it has recorded about 1,068 cases of Lassa fever infection across 112 local government areas in 28 states across the nation. NCDC disclosed this through its official website today in its Lassa fever situation report for week 37 in its sequence of reporting which is effective (Sept. 11 – 17, 2023).
The agency revealed that Ondo state recorded the highest incidents with 75% then followed by Edo state and then Bauchi state comes third.
According to the NCDC, currently they are about 7,352 persons suspected to have contracted the disease out of which 181 amongst them could not make it alive.
Its record revealed that fatality record in the period under consideration account for 16.9 percent.
The report partly reads; “Cumulatively from week 1 to week 37, 2023, 181 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 16.9 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (19.1 per cent).
“In total for 2023, 28 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 112 local government areas.
“Seventy-five per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 25 per cent were reported from 25 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
It added, “Of the 75 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 35 per cent, Edo 29 per cent, and Bauchi 11 per cent.
“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 93 years, Median Age: 32 years).
“The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9. The number of suspected cases increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2022.”
Sadly, 49 health workers were recorded to have contracted Lassa Fever in 2023 alone in the country which is highest in recent time.
The agency called on general public to avoid contact with rodents and their dropping in their abodes and avoid direct contact with person suspected to be having Fever, practicing good hygiene are sure ways to limit the spread of the disease.
