Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 109 new Lassa fever infections and 20 deaths across 16 states between February 26 and March 3.
The NCDC noted in its latest situation report published on its website for the ninth week of 2024 that there was an increase in the confirmed cases from 96 in week eight.
The report shows that Nigeria recorded 682 confirmed cases and 128 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.8% which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2023 which was 16.1%, from week 1-9.
It also noted that the number of suspected cases increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2023, adding that eight new healthcare workers were affected in the reporting week.
NCDC noted that the 16 states affected were Edo, Benue, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Ondo, Bauchi, Delta, Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun, and Oyo states.
The situation report noted that 62% of all the confirmed cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi while 38% were from 24 states with confirmed cases.
