Lassa Fever Death Toll Hits 224 With 936 Confirmed Cases in 23 States, 113 LGAs
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- Lassa Fever has infected 936 people and caused 224 deaths across 23 Nigerian states this year, according to the NCDC.
- While new infections declined in the latest reporting week, the case fatality rate rose to 23.9%.
- Ondo, Bauchi, and Taraba states account for the majority of cases, with the disease predominantly affecting young adults aged 21-30.
Nigeria is grappling with a significant Lassa Fever outbreak, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reporting 936 confirmed cases and 224 deaths across 23 states this year.
The latest situation report for Epidemiological Week 27 indicates a decrease in new infections, with 14 cases detected compared to 31 in the previous week. However, the disease's lethality has increased, pushing the case fatality rate to 23.9% from 18.9% during the same period last year.
Ondo State bears the highest burden, contributing 30% of confirmed cases, followed by Bauchi (25%) and Taraba (14%). The NCDC notes that the disease primarily affects young adults, particularly those between 21 and 30 years old. Despite ongoing response efforts, including healthcare worker training and community engagement, factors like late patient presentation and high treatment costs contribute to the mortality rate.
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Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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