NIGERIA: Lassa Fever Killed 37 People In 2023 As NCDC Confirms 137 Cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says a total of 137 Lassa Fever cases have been recorded in the country in 2023.

NCDC’s latest Lassa Fever report shows that new cases were recorded from week one to week three of the agency’s situation report in the new year.

The cases were reported from 14 states: Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Plateau, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, FCT, Adamawa, and Enugu.

The new figure shows a 77.9 percent increase from the cases recorded in week 2.

“In week 3, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 77 in week 2 2023 to 137 cases,” the report reads.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 3, 2023, 37 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 15.1% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (18.8%).

“In total for 2023, 16 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 50 Local Government Areas.

“Seventy-nine (79%) of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 21% were reported from 13 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 79% of confirmed cases, Ondo reported 37%, Edo 36%, and Bauchi 5%.

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 79 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9.

“The number of suspected cases increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2022.

“Two new Healthcare workers were affected in the reporting week 3.”