NCDC reports one fatality and 15 fresh cases of Lassa fever within a week

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has documented one fatality and confirmed 15 fresh cases of Lassa fever nationwide within a single week.

According to the NCDC’s Week 13 situation report published on Friday, Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated rodents, food, or infected individuals.

While there was a decrease in confirmed cases from 25 in Week 12 to 15 in the latest reporting week, the number of suspected cases rose compared to the same period in 2023. Cumulatively, the country has recorded 806 confirmed cases and 150 deaths from Week one to 13, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.6 percent, slightly higher than the previous year’s CFR of 17.5 percent.

The report also indicates that 25 states have reported at least one confirmed case across 125 local government areas in 2024. Notably, Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states collectively account for the majority of confirmed cases, with Ondo leading at 24 percent, followed by Edo at 22 percent, and Bauchi at 16 percent. The NCDC has activated the National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate responses and enhance control efforts at all levels through the Emergency Operations Centre.