Lassa Fever Outbreak: New Cases Emerge Across Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a surge in fresh cases of Lassa fever, accompanied by 20 fatalities spanning 16 states over the span of one week, from February 26 to March 3.
In the ninth week of 2024, the NCDC witnessed a notable increase in confirmed cases, tallying up to 96 cases recorded in the preceding week.
Lassa fever, a severe viral illness transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated food or objects, typically from infected rodents or individuals, has manifested symptoms ranging from fever, headache, and sore throat to more severe manifestations such as bleeding from various body parts.
Despite concerted efforts, Nigeria continues to grapple with new cases and fatalities, underscoring the persistent threat posed by Lassa fever. The country documented a total of 109 cases within the span of one week.
From the first to the ninth week, Nigeria registered 682 confirmed cases and 128 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.8%, surpassing the rate recorded for the same period in 2023.
The outbreak has affected multiple states, including Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun, and Oyo.
The report highlighted that 62% of confirmed cases originated from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, while the remaining 38% were spread across 24 states.
The age group most affected by the outbreak falls within the range of 31 to 40 years, with a slightly higher incidence observed among males compared to females.
In response to the outbreak, the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral incident management system has been activated to coordinate a comprehensive response at all levels through the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
