Lassa Fever: NCDC records 77 new cases, 6 deaths

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), six fatalities and 77 new cases of Lassa fever have been reported throughout the nation.

The organization stated that cases were reported from January 9 to January 15 in nine states in its most recent Lassa fever situation report.

Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Oyo, and Nasarawa are the states in question.

Six fatalities and 105 total cases have been reported in 2023.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 2, 2023,  seven deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 7.8 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (11.5%),” the report reads.

“In total for 2023, 10 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 30 Local Government Areas.

“Eighty-four (84%) of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 16 per cent were reported from seven states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.

“Of the 84% of confirmed cases, Edo State reported 39 per cent, Ondo 37 per cent, and Bauchi 8 per cent

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 79 years, Median Age: 31 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.7.

“The number of suspected cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2022.

“No new Healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week.”

The organization also stated that the technical working group (TWG) for the national Lassa fever response is still in charge of coordinating response efforts at all levels.

Source