The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported new cases of Lassa fever, accompanied by 20 fatalities spanning 16 states within a week, from February 26 to March 3.
During the ninth week of 2024, the NCDC observed a surge in confirmed cases, recording 96 cases in the previous week alone.
Lassa fever, a severe viral illness transmitted to humans via contaminated food or objects, continues to pose a significant threat in Nigeria, resulting in 109 cases reported within one week.
From weeks one to nine, Nigeria documented 682 confirmed cases and 128 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 18.8%, surpassing the rate recorded for the same period in 2023.
The outbreak has affected numerous states, including Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun, and Oyo.
According to the report, 62% of confirmed cases originated from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, with the remaining 38% spread across 24 states.
Most affected individuals fall within the age group of 31 to 40 years, with males exhibiting a slightly higher incidence compared to females.
In response, the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral incident management system has been activated to coordinate a comprehensive response at all levels through the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).