Lassa Fever– Nigeria records 85 deaths in 6 weeks

According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 85 deaths from Lassa fever occurred in Nigeria in the first six weeks of 2023 across 20 states and 79 Local Government Areas, or LGAs (NCDC).

The agency revealed this in the Lassa Fever Situation Report Epi Week 6, which covered the days of February 6 through February 12, 2023. It said there were a total of 2,244 suspected cases and 531 confirmed cases during that time. According to the government, 85 deaths have been reported overall from Week 1 to Week 6 of 2023, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 16.0 percent, which is lower than the CFR for the same time in 2022. (16.5 percent).

From 106 in week 5 of 2023 to 68 instances in week 6, there were fewer new confirmed cases. 415 suspected instances and 68 confirmed cases were reported in week six of the present year, as opposed to 1,631 suspected cases and 358 confirmed cases for the same period in 2022.

Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, Gombe, Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau States reported these. The declaration claims that, as of 2023, 79 Local Government Areas in 20 States had at least one confirmed case reported. Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi were the source of 74% of all confirmed Lassa fever cases, while 6 other states had 26% of all confirmed cases.

Ondo reported 36%, Edo reported 31%, and Bauchi reported 7% of the 74% verified cases. The impacted age range is primarily between 21 and 30. (Range: 1 to 93 years, Median Age: 31 years). For confirmed cases, the male-to-female ratio is 1:0.9. When compared to information recorded during the same period in 2022, there were more suspected cases. It had an impact on four new healthcare employees.

The National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sector Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated, according to the Agency, to coordinate the response efforts at all levels.

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