Bauchi, Edo top list as NCDC reports 48 Lassa fever cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 48 cases of Lassa fever have been recorded in 2022.

Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic disease, is transmitted to humans through contact with food, household items contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.

The agency, in its epidemiological report for January 3 to January 9, said the cases were recorded in 10 states across 20 LGAs, with Bauchi, Edo, and Ondo, accounting for 79 percent of the total number of cases.

The report said two persons were killed by the disease, and that the number of suspected cases has increased by 433 percent, compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.

“In week 1, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 28 in week 52, 2021 to 48 cases. These were reported from Bauchi, Edo, Ondo, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Kogi, Cross River and Ebonyi States,” the report reads.

“Cumulatively as of week 1, 2022, 2 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 4.2% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (22.2%).

“In total for 2022, 10 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 20 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 79% are from Bauchi (29%), Edo (27%) and Ondo (23%) States.

“The predominant age-group affected is 31-40 years (Range: 3 to 70 years, Median Age: 31.5 years). The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9.

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

“One new Healthcare worker affected from Benue State in the reporting week 1.”