Lassa fever kills 109 in Jan. 2023, records 676 cases in 9 weeks
Total of 109 deaths were recorded in 89 local government areas (LGAs) across 22 states in the country as at January 2023, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), which disclosed this on its portal, Tuesday.
The 22 states include; Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, Kano, Benue, Niger, FCT, Cross River, Adamawa, Gombe, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Enugu, Imo, Anambra and Jigawa.
The NCDC further said that a total of five deaths were recorded in three states; 2 in Ondo, 1 in Bauchi and 2 in Ebonyi.
The agency also disclosed that it recorded 676 cases of the Lassa fever infection in nine weeks.
“Between Feb. 27 and March 5, 40 cases and five deaths were recorded in five states and 16 LGAs.
“The states are: Ondo -11, Edo -16, Bauchi has five, Taraba – five and Ebonyi -three.”
It noted that 72% of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria were reported from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi, while 28% from two states.
“Out of the 72 per cent, Ondo has 33, Edo 29, and Bauchi 10,” the NCDC said.
The agency further said that cumulatively, from week one to nine, 109 deaths were reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 16.1 per cent, lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (18.6).
It stated that predominant age group affected was between 21 and 30 years (Range: one to 93 years, Median Age: 32 years) while the male-to-female ratio for cases was 1:0.8.
“The number of suspected cases increased compared to the same period reporter in 2022. One new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week nine,” it said.
The NCDC added that the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre had been activated to coordinate response activities.
