In the first four weeks of 2022, 40 people died from Lassa fever in 43 Local Government Areas across 14 States, out of a total of 211 people who were confirmed infected during the period.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, revealed this in its latest Lassa fever Situation Report on 30 January, 2022, there were 981 suspected cases compared to 507 cases recorded during the same period in 2021.
According to the agency, 229 suspected cases were recorded in week 4, January 24 – 30, 42 confirmed cases, and six fatalities occurred.
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Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Enugu, and Delta States are among those affected.
From week one to week four of 2022, 40 deaths were reported, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.0 percent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021. (22.2 per cent).
According to the statement, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 74 in week 3 of 2022 to 42 in week 4.
These were reported in the states of Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Enugu, and Delta.
According to the NCDC, each of the 14 states had at least one confirmed case spread across 43 Local Government Areas.
“Of all confirmed cases, 82% are from the states of Ondo (30%), Edo (27%), and Bauchi (25%).”
The majority of those affected are between the ages of 21 and 30, with a male to female ratio of 1:0:8.
The agency observed an increase in the number of suspected cases compared to the same period in 2021, despite the fact that no new healthcare workers were affected in reporting week 4.
To coordinate the response, the agency has activated its Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Coordination Centre (EOC). The Lassa virus causes a hemorrhagic illness known as Lassa fever.
The rodent “multimammate rat” (Mastomys natalensis) serves as the animal reservoir; transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected rodent urine and feces, as well as person-to-person contact.
