The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a significant rise in confirmed Lassa Fever cases, leading to a total of 162 deaths in 2024.
The NCDC has emphasized the importance of following safety protocols and promptly reporting symptoms to local health authorities.
In an update posted on its official website on Saturday, the NCDC detailed that Nigeria recorded 10 new Lassa fever cases across four states within the week of May 20 to May 26.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Lassa Fever is a severe viral hemorrhagic illness.
The disease is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected rodents or through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Symptoms of Lassa Fever include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pains, and chest pain.
In severe cases, it can cause unexplained bleeding from various parts of the body, including the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.
The NCDC reported that the number of confirmed Lassa Fever cases increased from four in week 20 to ten in week 21.
Additionally, there was an uptick in the number of suspected cases compared to the same period in 2023.
Cumulatively, Nigeria has recorded 897 confirmed cases and 162 deaths in 2024, with a case fatality rate of 18.1 percent, which is higher than the 17.1 percent case fatality rate for the same period in 2023.
The NCDC noted that 28 states have reported at least one confirmed case across 125 local government areas in 2024.
Notably, 65 percent of the confirmed cases were reported from four states: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, and Plateau, with Ondo State accounting for 25 percent, Edo 22 percent, and Bauchi 18 percent.
The majority of those affected by the disease are between the ages of 31 and 40. The NCDC also highlighted that no health workers were infected in the reporting week.
The increase in cases underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and preventive measures throughout the country.
The NCDC is ramping up efforts to trace contacts and implement control measures to curb the disease’s spread.
The agency is closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with state health authorities to ensure a coordinated response.
“The National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues coordinating the response at all levels,” the NCDC stated.
