Lassa fever: NCDC confirms 12 new deaths as fatality toll rises to 92

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says a total of 92 persons have died of Lassa fever in 2021.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic (excessive bleeding) illness that is transmitted to humans through contact with food, household items contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.

Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, and in severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings.

As of the last Lassa fever situation report, NCDC confirmed a total of 80 deaths across 16 states.

According to the latest NCDC Lassa fever situation report, 454 persons in 17 states have been infected by the disease in 2021.

The states affected include Edo (197), Ondo (159), Taraba (21), Ebonyi (18), Bauchi (18), Benue (8), Plateau (8), Kaduna (7), Enugu (5), Nasarawa (3), Kogi (3), FCT (2), Cross River (1),  Imo (1), Anambra (1), Delta (1), and Abia (1).

“In week 50, the number of new confirmed cases is the same as reported in week 49, 2021 (10 cases). These were reported from Ondo, Bauchi, Edo and Ebonyi States,” the report reads.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 50, 2021, 92 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 20.3% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2020 (20.7%)

“In total for 2021, 17 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 66 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 83% are from Edo (43%), Ondo (35%) and Taraba (5%) States.

“The predominant age-group affected is 21-30 years (Range: <1 to 70 years, Median Age: 29 years). The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9.

“The number of suspected cases has decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2020.

“Two new healthcare workers affected in the reporting week 50.”