NCDC has reported a decrease in the number of Lassa fever cases and deaths in the sixth week of 2023...

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a decrease in the number of Lassa fever cases and deaths in the sixth week of 2023, spanning from February 6 to February 12.

According to the latest situation report published on Monday, there were 68 additional confirmed cases and 15 deaths. This brings the total number of confirmed cases and deaths recorded in 2023 to 531 and 85, respectively.

The NCDC noted that the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 106 in the previous week to 68 cases reported from Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, Gombe, Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau states. The case fatality rate (CFR) for the period was 16%, lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (16.5%).

NCDC reported that 20 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 79 Local Government Areas, with Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states topping the chart with 74% of the cases. Ondo State recorded 36%, while Edo and Bauchi accounted for 31% and 7%, respectively.

In the reporting week six, four new healthcare workers were infected, and the number of suspected cases increased compared to the same period in 2022.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness that is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.

Its symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pains, and chest pain. In severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings can occur.