- The NCDC raised concern over the alarming death toll, despite a slight decrease in new confirmed cases from 11 to 10 in the past week.
- The report identifies persistent hotspots in the country, with 71% of all confirmed cases originating from Ondo
- The NCDC stated that although no healthcare workers were infected in the past week
According to the latest situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Lassa fever has resulted in 138 deaths in Nigeria between January and the present, with a 19.3% case fatality rate.
Eko Hot Blog reports that this represents an increase from the 18.0% rate recorded during the same period in 2024.
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As of Epi Week 18, the report indicates that a total of 717 confirmed cases have been documented, with four new states—Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Benue—reporting cases within the current week alone.
The NCDC raised concern over the alarming death toll, despite a slight decrease in new confirmed cases from 11 to 10 in the past week.
The report identifies persistent hotspots in the country, with 71% of all confirmed cases originating from Ondo (30%), Bauchi (25%), and Taraba (16%), emphasizing the need for targeted interventions in these regions.
Statistics show that individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 are most affected by Lassa fever, with a higher incidence among males compared to females, at a ratio of 1:0.8.
The NCDC stated that although no healthcare workers were infected in the past week, 22 healthcare workers have been affected in 2023.
The agency also said it has activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System, deploying 10 Rapid Response Teams across affected states.
The NCDC says it has intensified contact tracing, community sensitisation, and distribution of essential commodities like PPE, Ribavirin, body bags, and disinfectants, in collaboration with international partners including WHO, MSF, CEPI, and Georgetown University.
Nigeria has conducted numerous webinars, capacity-building trainings, and surveillance activities to address the outbreak.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist due to late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, and low awareness levels in high-burden areas. Additionally, poor environmental sanitation has contributed to the spread of the disease.
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The NCDC urges citizens to maintain hygiene, report symptoms early, and avoid contact with rodents and their secretions to help combat the outbreak.
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