The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has released its latest update on the Lassa fever situation in the country, revealing that there have been 1,068 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 181 deaths across 28 states and 112 Local Government Areas (LGAs) as of September 17, 2023.
The breakdown of reported Lassa Fever cases by states is as follows: Ondo (371), Edo (308), Bauchi (120), Taraba (93), Ebonyi (51), Plateau (16), Nasarawa (14), Kogi (11), Gombe (9), Enugu (5), Kano (4), Oyo (4), Jigawa (3), Anambra (3), Bayelsa (2), FCT (2), Lagos (2), Delta (2), Cross River (2), Sokoto (1), Kebbi (1), Zamfara (1), Adamawa (1), Nigeria (1), Rivers (1), Kaduna (1), and Imo (1).
This situation report, covering data from September 11 to 17, 2023, also sheds light on the distribution of cases throughout the year. A staggering 75 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases this year have been concentrated in just three states: Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi. More specifically, Ondo State accounted for 35 per cent of these cases, Edo State 29 per cent, and Bauchi State 11 per cent.
The NCDC highlights the significant challenges faced in effectively combating Lassa fever in Nigeria, such as late presentation of cases resulting in an elevated case fatality ratio, and the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever, which has deterred individuals from seeking timely medical care. In addition, poor environmental sanitation conditions in high-burden communities, coupled with a lack of awareness, have compounded the issue.
The NCDC provided further insight, stating, “In week 37, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 5 in epi week 36, 2023, to 4 cases. This was reported in Edo and Ondo States.
“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 37, 2023, 181 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 16.9 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (19.1 per cent). In total for 2023, 28 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 112 Local Government Areas.”
Among the demographic details, the predominant age group affected is 21-30 years, with a range spanning from 1 to 93 years and a median age of 32 years. The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases stands at 1:0.9.
It also said noted that, “while the number of suspected cases has increased compared to the same period in 2022, it is reassuring to note that no new healthcare workers were affected during reporting week 37.”
Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic disease, usually spreads to humans through contact with items contaminated by the waste or bodily fluids of infected rodents.
Typical symptoms include fever, headaches, sore throat, general weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and chest pain. In severe cases, the disease can progress to unexplained bleeding from various bodily openings like the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and others.