The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has documented a total of 1,095 Lassa fever cases with 188 fatalities, spanning across 113 local government areas in 28 states.
This information was disclosed in the Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 41 (October 9–15, 2023), which the NCDC released on Tuesday.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus, belonging to the arenavirus family.
Typically, humans contract the Lassa virus when they come into contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in various regions of West Africa.
Lassa fever continues to pose a significant public health concern in Nigeria, with factors such as inadequate environmental sanitation, low awareness levels, and delayed case reporting contributing to the persistence of the epidemic.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has reported a total of 7,724 suspected cases, and the disease has claimed the lives of at least 188 individuals in the country.
Given the current number of fatalities, the agency reported that the outbreak’s case-fatality ratio is 17.2 percent.
“Cumulatively, from week 1 to week 41, 2023, 188 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate of 17.2 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (18.9 per cent).
“In total for 2023, 28 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 113 LGAs.
“Seventy-five of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi), while 25 per cent were reported from 25 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 75 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 35 per cent, Edo 29 per cent, and Bauchi, 11 per cent.
“The predominant age group affected is 21–30 years (range: 1–93 years, median age: 32 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9,” the report read in part.
