The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 5,669 presumed cases of Lassa fever with 152 fatalities, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate of 18.3 percent.
As per the Lassa fever situation update published by the NCDC on its webpage on Monday, a total of 832 cases were verified among suspected cases from 27 states across 126 Local Government Areas from January to April 14, 2024.
Per the World Health Organization, Lassa fever is a sudden viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus, belonging to the arenavirus family.
According to the WHO, individuals typically contract the Lassa virus by coming into contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats.
The illness is native to the rodent population in some areas of West Africa.
Lassa fever is recognized as being native to Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, but potentially also exists in other West African nations.
“Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures.
“Diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. The overall case-fatality rate is one per cent. Among patients who are hospitalized with severe clinical presentation of Lassa fever, the case fatality is estimated at around 15%. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.
“About 80 per cent of people who become infected with the Lassa virus have no symptoms. 1 in 5 infections result in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys,” WHO mentioned.
According to the report from the NCDC, there was an uptick in new confirmed cases during week 15, rising from 11 cases in the previous week to a total of 15 cases. These instances were documented in the states of Bauchi, Edo, and Ondo.
Cumulatively from week 1 to 15, 2024, 152 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 18.3 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2023 (17.3 per cent).
“In total for 2024, 27 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 126 LGAs.
“Sixty-five (65 per cent) of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 35 per cent were reported from 24 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 65 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 25 per cent, Edo 23 per cent, and Bauchi 17 per cent,” it said.
The National Institute of Public Health disclosed that the most affected age group was between 31 to 40 years old (ranging from 1 to 98 years, with a median age of 32 years), and the ratio of confirmed cases among males and females was equal.
The data indicated an increase in the number of suspected cases compared to the same period in 2023.
The report also revealed that 32 healthcare workers have contracted the virus thus far.
Nonetheless, the NCDC announced that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to oversee the response at all levels at the Emergency Operations Centre.
