Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria: 72 Deaths in Six Weeks

The report also stated that the number of new confirmed cases increased from 70 in week five to 83 in week six, affecting 12 states: Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Kogi, Plateau, Cross River, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Lagos.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that Lassa fever, a deadly viral disease, has claimed the lives of 72 people in Nigeria since the beginning of the year.

According to the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for week six, which was published on its website on Thursday, a total of 2,122 suspected cases, 411 confirmed cases, and 72 deaths have been recorded from Lassa fever in Nigeria as of February 11, 2024.

The confirmed cases were reported from 21 states and 78 local government areas in the country, with three states accounting for 65 per cent of the cases: Ondo (24 per cent), Edo (23 per cent), and Bauchi (18 per cent).

The report also stated that the number of new confirmed cases increased from 70 in week five to 83 in week six, affecting 12 states: Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Kogi, Plateau, Cross River, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Lagos.

The case fatality rate (CFR) of Lassa fever in Nigeria for 2024 is 17.5 per cent, which is slightly lower than the CFR for the same period in 2023 (17.6 per cent).

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, which is transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their excreta. The disease can also spread from person to person through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person.

Lassa fever can cause fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and bleeding from various parts of the body. The disease can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.

The NCDC has activated the National Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the response to the outbreak, and has deployed rapid response teams to the affected states. The NCDC has also distributed case management and infection prevention and control guidelines, as well as medical supplies, to the states and treatment centres.

The NCDC has advised the public to take preventive measures to avoid contracting Lassa fever, such as keeping rodents away from homes and food, storing food in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage properly, avoiding contact with sick or dead rodents, and practicing good hygiene.

The NCDC has also urged health workers to adhere to standard precautions when handling patients or samples, and to report any suspected case of Lassa fever to the nearest health facility or the NCDC toll-free number: 0800-970000-10.

Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and some other West African countries, and usually peaks during the dry season (December–April). The NCDC has said that it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to the public.

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