Lassa Fever Kills 14, Infects 82 In Seven States

Scientists raise hope for eradication of dengue, malaria, others Lassa fever has killed 14 persons, infected 82 others in seven states and 13 councils in the country. The states include Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and Ogun.

According to latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), tagged Lassa fever Situation Report Epi Week 02: 06 – 12 January 2020, the number of new confirmed cases for the same period in 2019 was 60.

The NCDC report released Monday showed the number of deaths decreased from 16 for the same period in 2019 to 14 and the overall case fatality rate (CFR) for 2020 is (17.1 per cent) which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2019 (28.7 per cent).

It noted that of all confirmed cases Edo and Ondo had 38 per cent apiece while Ebonyi had 11 per cent, and the predominant age group affected was 11 to 40 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1.

However, the outbreak has caused panic in Ondo, with many residents in fear that the disease might spread from the northern part of the state, where it frequently breaks out, to other parts.

A director of Public Health in Enugu State, Dr. Boniface Okolo, had warned Nigerians to desist from soaking garri, which is highly exposed to the deadly disease.

For the past five years, the northern district of Ondo, particularly Owo town and neighbouring communities, suffer recurring outbreak of Lassa fever almost yearly, leaving the people of the areas in fears.

A source within one of the hospitals, who pleaded anonymity, said patients had been affected by the deadly disease.

He disclosed further that there were more reported cases at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, which was mapped out by the Federal Government and CDC as treatment centre; and other state government hospitals.