The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported a total of 1,068 Lassa fever infections across 28 states from January to September 17. Most cases, accounting for 75%, were identified in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states. Tragically, this outbreak has led to the loss of 181 lives, resulting in a case-fatality rate of 16.9%. Comparatively, this rate is lower than that of the same period in 2022, which was 19.1%.
Throughout 2023, Lassa fever has been detected in 28 states, spanning 112 local government areas. The majority of confirmed cases (75%) were concentrated in Ondo (35%), Edo (29%), and Bauchi (11%). The age group most affected by the disease is between 21-30 years, with patients ranging from 1 to 93 years old, and a median age of 32 years. The gender distribution among confirmed cases is almost equal, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.9. Additionally, there has been an increase in suspected cases compared to the same period in 2022, and 49 healthcare workers have been infected by Lassa fever in 2023.
|The Cable
