Lassa Fever kills 59, infects 358 in 19 states — NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has said that Lassa Fever outbreak has claimed 59 lives since the beginning of the year.

In a situation report on Wednessday, the centre said 358 confirmed cases of the disease have been recorded this year in 19 states and 65 local government areas of the country. The report said seven new healthcare workers have been infected in Bauchi, Ondo and Edo states.

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It was also revealed that in week six, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 58 in week five, 2022 to 77 cases.

“These were reported from Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Enugu, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger States, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Cumulatively from week one to week six, of 2022; 59 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate(CFR) of 16.5 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021(22.9 per cent)”.

NCDC said the national Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral national emergency coordination centre has been activated to coordinate response activities at all levels.