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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed one death and fifteen new cases following the spread of Lassa fever across the country.
The NCDC said this in a situation report for Week 13 published on its website on Saturday.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.
Its symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, and, in severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.
According to the report, “Twenty-five states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 125 local government areas in 2024.
“Sixty-two per cent of all confirmed cases were recorded from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, with Ondo State accounting for 24 per cent, Edo 22 per cent, and Bauchi 16 per cent,” it said.
The NCDC said the National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Incident Management System had been activated to coordinate response at all levels at the Emergency Operations Centre.
The NCDC highlighted some challenges in the fight against Lassa fever, including the late presentation of cases leading to increased CFR and poor health-seeking behaviour.
