A wave of devastation sweeps through Nigeria as the deadly Lassa fever outbreak claims numerous lives, with over a hundred cases reported across 16 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC revealed that between February 26 and March 3, 20 deaths and 109 cases of Lassa fever were recorded across the affected states. Described as an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, Lassa fever is transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated rodents or individuals.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, sore throat, body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, muscle pains, chest pain, and in severe cases, unexplained bleeding from various body openings.
Despite ongoing efforts, new cases and fatalities continue to emerge, with the predominant age group affected being 31 to 40 years old. The NCDC has activated the National Lassa Fever multi-partner incident management system to coordinate response efforts at all levels through the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
The affected states include Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun, and Oyo. Notably, 62 percent of confirmed cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, with the remaining 38 percent distributed among other states.
The NCDC reported an increase in confirmed cases from 96 in the previous week, bringing the total confirmed cases in Nigeria to 682 with 128 deaths and a case fatality rate of 18.8 percent.
As states grapple with the outbreak, health authorities are mobilizing resources to contain the spread of the disease. In Taraba State, the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo confirmed 19 deaths due to Lassa fever, while Benue State recorded 46 cases with nine deaths.
Additionally, Ebonyi State reported 23 deaths out of 45 confirmed cases, with a case fatality rate of 51.1 percent. The state government identified seven local government areas as hotspots for the disease, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention and surveillance efforts.
The Kaduna State Government also confirmed five deaths related to Lassa fever, underscoring the widespread impact of the outbreak across the nation. Amidst these grim developments, health authorities and stakeholders are intensifying response measures to curb the spread of the disease and mitigate further casualties.
