2022: NCDC records 112 deaths as Lassa fever cases hit 630

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 112 people have died of Lassa fever in 2022.

The agency said this in its latest Lassa fever report for week 10 covering March 7 to March 13.

It said in the reporting week, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 57 in week nine, to 33 cases.

The cases were reported from Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Kebbi states.

According to the report, from the beginning of the year, 3,079 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported across the country, of which 630 were confirmed positive.

A total of 45 health workers were also said to have been confirmed positive for Lassa fever between January and March.

“Cumulatively, from week 1 to week 10, 2022, 112 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.8% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (22.0%),” the report reads.

“In total for 2022, 23 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 87 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 70% are from Ondo (30%), Edo (24%) and Bauchi (16%) States.

“The predominant age-group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 80 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.

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

“No new health care workers affected in the reporting week 10.”