Lassa Fever: NCDC Confirms 13 New Cases In Seven Days

13 additional new cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed in seven days from five states; Ondo, Edo, Kogi, Ebonyi and Imo by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). 

According to a report from the NCDC, since the beginning of 2022, 70 per cent of infections had come from three states: Ondo (31 per cent), Edo (26 per cent), and Bauchi (13 per cent).

The agency said,” In week 31 (Aug. 1 to 7), the number of new confirmed cases increased from 10 in week 30, 2022 to 13 cases. These were reported from Ondo, Edo, Kogi, Ebonyi and Imo states.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 31, 2022, 165 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.8 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (23.1 per cent).

“In total for 2022, 25 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 100 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 70 per cent are from Ondo (31 per cent), Edo (26 per cent), and Bauchi (13 per cent) States.”

The NCDC stated that the predominant age group affected were 21-30 years.

“The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.

“No new Healthcare worker affected in the reporting week 31,” it said.

The NCDC, however, said that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) had continued to coordinate the response activities at all levels.