NCDC records 127 Lassa fever deaths as cases hit 681

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 127 people have died of Lassa fever in 2022.

The agency said this in its latest Lassa fever report for week 12 covering March 21 to March 27.

It said in the reporting week, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 29 in week 11, to 22 cases.

The cases were reported from Edo, Kogi, Bauchi, Ondo, Ebonyi, Plateau and Taraba States.

According to the report, from the beginning of the year, 3,542 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported across the country, of which 681 were confirmed positive.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 12, 2022, 127 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.6% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (21.3%),” the report reads.

“In total for 2022, 23 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 92 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 67% are from Ondo (28%), Edo (24%) and Bauchi (15%) 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 Healthcare worker affected in the reporting week 12.

“National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Coordination Centre (EOC) activated to coordinate response activities at all levels.”