He Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says that in less than three months, the country has recorded 784 confirmed cases of Lassa fever with 142 deaths in 23 states. The NCDC through its official website said on Tuesday that the infections were recorded from January 1 to date.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.
The natural reservoir of the virus is the rodent Mastomys natalensis (commonly known as the multimammal rat or African rat).
Other rodents can also carry the virus, which is spread through direct contact with the urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
The virus can also be spread through contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with urine, feces, saliva, or blood from infected rats.
He said that in Epidemiological Week 11, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 70 in Week 10 of 2023, to 38 cases.
The agency said the cases were reported in Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, Rivers, Plateau and Nasarawa states.
The NCDC said that, cumulatively, from epidemiological week 1 through week 11 of 2023, 142 deaths were reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.1%, which was lower than the 18.7% CFR for the same period in 2022.
The NCDC said that in total by 2023, 23 states had recorded at least one confirmed case in 97 local government areas.
The public health institution said that 71 percent of all new confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported in Ondo, Edo and Bauchi, while 29 percent came from six states.
He said that of the 71 percent, Ondo reported 32 percent, Edo 29 and Bauchi 10.
According to the NCDC, the predominant age group affected is 21 to 30 years, with a median age of 32 years.
He said the male to female ratio for confirmed cases was 1:0.9.
The agency said the number of suspected cases increased compared to the number reported for the same period in 2022.
The NCDC said one healthcare worker was affected in week 11.
He said the multi-sectoral, multi-partner Lassa Fever National Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate response activities at all levels.
NAN reports that person-to-person transmission of Lassa fever can occur through contact with blood, urine, feces, vomit, and other bodily fluids from an infected person.
Lassa fever initially presents like other common illnesses accompanied by fever, such as malaria.
Other symptoms include headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, chest pain, and sore throat.
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In severe cases, symptoms include bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings.
The time between infection and the onset of disease symptoms is three to 21 days.
Early diagnosis and treatment of diseases greatly increases a patient’s chances of survival.
(YAYA)