In its situation report for week 37, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has recorded 1,068 cases of Lassa fever spread across 112 local government areas within 28 states of the federation.
This information was shared by the NCDC through its official website on Tuesday. The center highlighted that a significant portion, 75 percent, of these cases were identified in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi States.
The NCDC reports that there are already 7,352 people with probable cases, and the illness has tragically resulted in at least 181 fatalities throughout the nation. 16.9% of those who contract the virus die from it.
According to the NCDC, 181 deaths were reported overall from week 1 to week 37 of 2023, with a case fatality rate of 16.9%, which is lower than the CFR for the same time period in 2022 (19.1%). They added that, as of 2023, 112 local government districts in 28 states had reported at least one confirmed case.
The three states of Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi accounted for a sizable 75 percent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases, while the remaining 25 percent were reported from 25 additional states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Ondo reported 35% of these confirmed cases, Edo reported 29%, and Bauchi reported 11%.
The age group most frequently affected is 21 to 30 years, with a range of 1 to 93 years and a median age of 32 years. The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is approximately 1:0.9. Furthermore, compared to the same period in 2022, there are more suspected cases today.
The Lassa virus, which causes Lassa fever, is mostly found in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria. Lassa disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever. Contact with the urine or faeces of infected rodents, specifically the multimammate rat, passes the virus to people.
Unfortunately, Lassa fever struck 49 medical practitioners in the country in 2023. According to NCDC, the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre has been formed to coordinate response activities at all stages. They also stressed how important it is to avoid contact with rodents and their excrement, maintain proper personal hygiene, and take safety precautions when caring for affected patients if you want to prevent Lassa fever.
The NCDC states that early detection and rapid medical attention are essential for controlling the illness and avoiding consequences.