Ayomide Awe
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recorded 1,018 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of 8,411 suspected cases from January 1 to September 29, 2024, in 28 states across 128 local government areas nationwide.
The Centre also recorded 172 deaths with a case fatality rate of 16.9 per cent.
This was according to a Lassa fever situation report obtained from the NCDC on Friday, which showed the virus continues to spread rapidly despite ongoing efforts to curb it.
The data analysis collated from January 1 to September 29 indicates that the confirmed cases were drawn from 8,411 suspected infections, affecting 128 local government areas (LGAs) across the country.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Lassa fever is endemic in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
This fever is typically transmitted through exposure to food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected rats.
According to the NCDC, the number of new confirmed cases has been rising, with nine new infections recorded in the 39th week of 2024, up from four in the previous week. Ondo and Edo states reported the latest cases.
The report revealed that Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states account for 68 percent of all confirmed cases, with Ondo leading at 28 percent, Edo at 23 percent, and Bauchi at 17 percent. The remaining 32 percent of confirmed cases have been spread across 25 other states.
Public health authorities have pleaded with residents in affected areas to adhere to preventive measures, including proper food storage, maintaining hygiene, and avoiding contact with rodents.
