Lassa fever cases hit 1,035 in Nigeria, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi lead

Lassa fever cases hit 1,035 in Nigeria, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi lead

Ondo, Edo and Bauchi are the states with the highest number of confirmed Lassa Fever cases between January and October.

This was recorded in the latest Lassa Fever Situation Report published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on X on Friday.

Lassa Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease, which has killed at least 174 Nigerians in 2024.

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According to the report, 28 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 129 local government areas between January 1 and October 13.

While there were 8,569 suspected cases within this period, only 1,035 confirmed cases have been recorded across these 28 States.

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“68 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 32 per cent were reported from 25 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 68 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 28 per cent, Edo 23 per cent and Bauchi 17 per cent,” stated the NCDC report.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to 41, 2024, 174 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 16.8% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2023 (17.2%).”

The report also revealed that the major age group affected by Lassa Fever is between 31 and 40 years old.

The Lassa virus causes the fever which is mostly transmitted to humans through food and household items contaminated by the faeces or urine of infected rats.

Earlier in 2024, Yakubu Baba, the registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), advised Nigerians to avoid consuming bush meat while stating that its preparation process does not ensure the meat is free from viruses.

Lassa fever cases hit 1,035 in Nigeria, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi lead