The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has registered over one thousand Lassa fever infections across one hundred and twelve local government areas in twenty eight states of the federation.
The NCDC revealed this via its official website on Tuesday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for the Week, indicating that seventy five per cent of the cases were detected in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi States.
It is reported that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus which is primarily found in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.
According to the NCDC, the virus is transmitted to humans through contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents, specifically the multi mammate rat.
“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.
“Of the 75 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 35 per cent, Edo 29 per cent, and Bauchi 11 per cent.
The agency further said that the National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre had been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels, adding that early diagnosis and prompt medical care are crucial in managing the disease and preventing complications.
“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,” it said.
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