The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has disclosed in its Lassa fever situation report for week nine spanning from January to March 2023 that 676 cases have been confirmed, as well as 109 deaths in 22 states in the country.
The report also showed that the death toll has risen to 109, an increase from the previous 104.
With the current death toll, the public health institution noted that the case-fatality ratio of the outbreak stood at
NCDC noted that 72 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi while 28 per cent were reported from two states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
Of the 72 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 33 per cent, Edo 29 per cent, and Bauchi 10 per cent.
The report reads in part, “In week 9, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 59 in week 8 2023 to 40 cases. These were reported from Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Ebonyi States.
“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 9, 2023, 109 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 16.1 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (18.6 per cent).
“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 93 years, Median Age: 32 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 10.8.
“The number of suspected cases increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2022.
“One new Healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week nine.”
