Lassa fever: NCDC records 1,025 cases, 174 deaths

On Oct 17, 2024

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 1,025 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of 8,484 suspected cases between January 1 and October 6, 2024, across 28 states and 128 local government areas nationwide.

The centre also recorded 174 deaths, with a Case Fatality Rate of 17.0 per cent.

This information is according to the Lassa fever situation report for week 40, obtained from the NCDC on Wednesday.

According to the World Health Organisation, Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.

Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats.

The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.
Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, and probably exists in other West African countries as well.

“Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures,” the global health body stated.

The NCDC report highlighted that, in week 40, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from nine in epidemiology week 39, 2024, to seven, with cases reported in Ondo and Edo States.

“Cumulatively, from week 1 to week 40, 2024, 174 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 17.0 per cent, which is the same CFR as for the corresponding period in 2023. In total for 2024, 28 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 128 local government areas.

“Sixty-eight per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi), while 32 per cent were reported from 25 other states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 68 per cent of confirmed cases, Ondo reported 28 per cent, Edo 23 per cent, and Bauchi 17 per cent.

“The predominant age group affected is 31-40 years (range: 1 to 98 years, median age: 32 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:1. The number of suspected cases increased compared to the same period in 2023,” the report stated.

It further noted that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels.