The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed ten new cases of Lassa fever infections from three states in the country.
According to the most recent situation report published on the website of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), cases were reported in the states of Ondo, Edo, and Nasarawa between August 29 and September 4, 2022.
The report revealed that, “A total of 170 deaths have been recorded in 2022 across 101 local government areas in 25 states.”
The agency noted that the fatalities represent a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.7 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 at 22.7 per cent.
The report shows that in 2022, “A total of 909 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 6,547 suspected cases have been recorded with 70 per cent of all confirmed cases reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states.”
Ondo State topped the infection chart with 31%, while Edo and Bauchi states accounted for 26% and 13% of infections, respectively.
The NCDC stated that the number of suspected cases has increased since the same period in 2021, but that no new healthcare workers were affected during the reporting week.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic (excessive bleeding) illness that affects people and is spread to them through contact with food or household items that have been contaminated by rodents or other infected people.
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