170 Dead As NCDC Records 990 Lassa Fever Cases In 28 States 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed that 990 cases of Lassa fever have so far been recorded in Nigeria in 2023.

The NCDC made this known in its situation report on Monday, noting that the cases were recorded from week 1 to week 27 of 2023.

It said in week 27 from July 3 to July 7, six cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi and Benue states.

The NCDC also reported that 170 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.2 percent which is lower for the same period in 2022.

“In total for 2023, 28 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 108 local government areas,” the report said.

“Seventy-three percent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 27 percent were reported from 25 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 73 percent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 33 percent, Edo 29 percent, and Bauchi 11 percent.

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“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.”

The report further said: “No new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 27.

“National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels.”

This is coming at the backdrop of another national health challenge which the outbreak of Anthrax in Gajiri village in Niger State has thrown up.