Posted on: Wed 25-01-2023

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 105 confirmed Lassa fever cases and seven deaths in 2023.

This is according to the week two Lassa fever situation report obtained from the NCDC’s website on Tuesday.

The cases were confirmed from 30 local government areas and 10 states in the country.

The situation report from January 9 to 15, 2023, showed that there were 369 suspected cases.

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

According to the World Health Organisation, Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.

The report read in part, “In week 2, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 30 in week one 2023 to 77 cases.

“These were reported from Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Oyo and Nasarawa States.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 2, 2023, seven deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate of 7.8 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (11.5 per cent).

“In total for 2023, 10 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 30 local government areas.

“Eighty-four per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states -Ondo, Edo and Bauchi, while 16 per cent were reported from seven states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.

“Of the 84 per cent of confirmed cases, Edo State reported 39 per cent, Ondo 37 per cent, and Bauchi eight per cent.”

Edo urges surveillance

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has planned to intensify the campaign to curb the spread of the disease in the state, rallying the support and collaboration of all residents to contain the disease and protect citizens across all communities.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, while addressing journalists in Benin City, said the state has continued to witness a steady rise in the number of cases and deaths from the disease and urged residents to comply with all guidelines to contain the disease.

She noted that the state has now recorded 97 confirmed cases and nine deaths from 11 local government councils across the state, reassuring that the government is stepping up sensitisation campaigns as well as surveillance and response activities, and taking other necessary steps to contain Lassa fever.

The commissioner said the affected local governments include Etsako West, Esan West, Esan North East, Esan Central, Esan South East, Etsako East, Owan East, Akoko Edo, Ovia North East, Oredo, and Etsako Central.

She added, “All Edo residents should be aware and take responsibility to work with the Ministry of Health, observe preventive measures, and report early symptoms suspected to be malaria or any other illnesses that present like malaria to complement the government’s efforts at containing the disease.”

She further charged them to reach out to the disease surveillance or notification officers within their local government areas if they have been in contact with someone confirmed to have Lassa fever or suspect any symptoms of Lassa fever or any other priority disease.

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