The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that Nigeria has recorded 155 deaths from Lassa fever.
The NCDC on Tuesday stated that the case fatality rate now stands at 18.9 percent higher than the 2024 percentage of 17.1 percent. As observed in week 29 of surveillance, Nigeria has reported a total of 6,640 suspected cases and 822 confirmed cases.
These reported cases, according to the NCDC, are from 21 states and 105 LGA in the last seven months. The body stated that week 29 confirmed cases matched week 27, with new infections reported from Ondo and Edo states.
The majority of the confirmed cases were recorded in five states, with Ondo having 32%, Edo 17%, Taraba 14% and Ebonyi 3%. The World Health Organization made known that the disease is an acute viral illness caused by the Lassa virus.
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Meanwhile, the virus, existing in other West African countries, is regionally confined in Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, among others. The global body warned that the virus is primarily transmitted to humans via food contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
It can also be contracted in health care settings lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures. According to the body, the age group affected is 21-30 years, including 11 percent confirmed cases in 16 states. However, there is a decrease in the number of suspected and confirmed cases compared to the numbers reported in 2024.
Following this, the National Lassa Fever Multipartner and other technical working groups pledged continued support for response coordination at all levels.
