The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a significant rise in Lassa fever cases across the country, News About Nigeria reports.
In its Lassa Fever situation report for week 41, covering the period from October 9 to 15, 2023, the NCDC revealed that a total of 1,095 Lassa fever cases have been recorded in 28 states, spanning 113 Local Government Areas.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which belongs to the arenavirus family. The primary mode of human infection is through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.
The disease is endemic in rodent populations in various parts of West Africa.
Several factors contribute to the persistence of Lassa fever in Nigeria, including inadequate environmental sanitation, low awareness, and late presentation of cases. These challenges continue to fuel the epidemic.
The NCDC further disclosed that the total number of suspected cases has reached 7,724, with a reported death toll of at least 188 individuals.
This brings the case-fatality ratio for the outbreak to 17.2 per cent.
When comparing these figures to the same period in 2022, there is a slight reduction in the case-fatality ratio.
The report highlighted that 28 states have reported at least one confirmed Lassa fever case, with 113 Local Government Areas affected.
Three states – Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi – have collectively accounted for 75 per cent of the confirmed cases, with Ondo reporting 35 per cent, Edo 29 per cent, and Bauchi 11 per cent.
The predominant age group affected by Lassa fever is 21 to 30 years, with a wide age range of 1 to 93 years. The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases stands at 1:0.9.
Notably, the number of suspected cases reported in 2023 has increased compared to the figures from the same period in 2022. The report also highlighted that the disease has affected 50 healthcare workers in Nigeria.
To combat the Lassa fever outbreak, the NCDC is actively conducting intensive response activities, taking a one-health approach, and deploying efforts in the affected Local Government Areas.
The situation remains a public health challenge in Nigeria, and continued vigilance and preventive measures are crucial to controlling the spread of the disease.
