The number of suspected Lassa fever cases in Nigeria has surged to 6,902, according to the latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) as of Thursday.
News About Nigeria understands that these cases have been documented across 125 local government areas in 28 states from January to June 23, 2024.
The data reveals that there have been 920 confirmed cases and 162 fatalities, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.6% since Week 20 of this year.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes Lassa fever as an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, which belongs to the arenavirus family.
Humans typically contract the virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.
The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.
“In Week 25, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from seven in epi-week 24, 2024 to two cases. These were reported in Edo State. Cumulatively, from Weeks 1 to 25, 2024, 162 deaths have been reported, with a CFR of 17.6%, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2023 (20.0%),” the report indicated.
The report also highlighted that 66% of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, with Ondo reporting 26%, Edo 22%, and Bauchi 18%.
The remaining 34% of cases were spread across 25 states with confirmed Lassa fever incidences.
The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years, with a median age of 32 years, and the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:1.
Lassa fever is endemic in several West African countries, including Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, and may exist in other West African nations.
According to the WHO, person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can occur, especially in healthcare settings lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures.
“Diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. The overall case-fatality rate is one percent. Among patients who are hospitalised with severe clinical presentation of Lassa fever, case fatality is estimated at around 15 percent.
“Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival. About 80 percent of people who become infected with the Lassa virus have no symptoms. One in five infections result in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys,” WHO noted.
