Lassa fever: NCDC records one death, 15 new cases in one week
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported one death and confirmed 15 new cases of Lassa fever within one week across the country.
The NCDC said this in a situation report for week 13 published on its website on Friday.
The Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.
Its symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, and, in severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.
The NCDC noted a decrease in the number of confirmed cases from 25 cases in week 12 to 15 cases in the reporting week, although the number of suspected cases increased compared to the same period in 2023.
Cumulatively, from week one to 13, the country recorded 806 confirmed cases and 150 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 18.6 per cent, higher than the CFR for the same period in 2023 (17.5 per cent).
“Twenty-five states recorded at least one confirmed case across 125 local government areas in 2024. Sixty-two per cent of confirmed cases were recorded from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, with Ondo State accounting for 24 per cent, Edo 22 per cent, and Bauchi 16 per cent,” it said.
According to the report, no health worker was infected in the reporting week, and individuals between the ages of 31 and 40 were predominantly affected by the infection.
The NCDC said the National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Incident Management System had been activated to coordinate response at all levels at the Emergency Operations Centre.
The NCDC highlighted some challenges in the fight against Lassa fever, including the late presentation of cases leading to increased CFR and poor health-seeking behaviour.
It attributed the latter to the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever, as well as poor environmental sanitation and awareness in high-burden communities.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Gunmen attack Benue governorship aspirant, abduct wife, house help
Ms Anene assured that the assailants would be tracked and arrested and the abducted freed.
NationWide
Cursing Nigeria unpatriotic; pray, speak positively for nation’s progress: Cleric
“Nigerians need to be patient with the government and pray for a positive turnaround for the country.”
States
Security agencies overpower suspected O’dua nation agitators attempting to overrun Oyo state secretariat
They had removed the Nigerian national flag and replaced it with their O’odua Nation flag.
Health
FG to establish national cancer registry: NICRAT DG
He said that the absence of such a national registry impeded national planning efforts in the fight against the disease.
Health
World Health Day: UNFPA urges equality in access to healthcare
She said that discrimination contributes to poor maternal health, even in better-off countries.
NationWide
From Cubana brothers to Ned Nwoko’s wife, how EFCC ignored Nigerian elite’s misuse of naira to unleash nightmare on Bobrisky, other everyday citizens
Videos on social media showed Obi Cubana standing in his living room and getting drenched in naira notes days before the burial.
