Lassa fever death cases rise to 92

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed in its latest situation report on the disease outbreak that Nigeria has recorded new deaths from Lassa fever as the death toll rises to 92.

Data from the report for Week 50, which covered December 13 to 19, revealed that three more deaths were reported in the week under review.

While Bauch reported two new fatalities, Ebonyi recorded a new death from the disease.

“Cumulatively from Week 1 to Week 50, 2021, 92 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 20.3 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2020 (20.7 per cent),” part of the report read.

According to the NCDC, a total of 190 new cases were suspected in 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but just 10 cases were confirmed in four states.

They include Edo – two, Ondo – four, Bauchi – three, and Ebonyi – one, and two of them are healthcare workers.

“In total for 2021, 17 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 66 Local Government Areas,” it said. “Of all confirmed cases, 83 per cent are from Edo (43 per cent), Ondo (35 per cent), and Taraba (five per cent) States.

“The predominant age group affected is 21 – 30 years (range: <1 to 70 years, Median Age: 29 years). The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.9. The number of suspected cases has decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2020.”