The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says the country’s confirmed cases of Lassa fever for 2022 stood at 1,067, spread across 112 local government areas and 27 states.

The NCDC, via its official website, said the death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak in the country also stood at 189.

It said no new healthcare worker was infected in the reporting week 52 of the Lassa fever in the country.

The 52nd-week report from December 26 to January 1 showed that the country’s suspected cases of Lassa fever were 8,202.

While there were no reported cases for health workers in the reporting week, the disease infected about 63 healthcare workers in the country.

It, however, said that the suspected cases were 8,202.

“In week 52, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 17 in week 51, 2022, to 12. These were reported from Edo, Ebonyi and Benue.

“Cumulatively from week one to week 52, 2022, 189 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 17.7 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (20.0 per cent).

“Seventy-two per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo and Bauchi), while 23 per cent were reported from 24 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.

“Of the 72 per cent of confirmed cases, Ondo state reported 33 per cent, Edo 25 per cent, and Bauchi 14 per cent.”

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 90 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.”

NCDC said the suspected cases increased compared to that of the same period in 2021.

The NCDC said the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continued to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

As many as 500,000 people are infected each year in West Africa. Lassa fever may also induce serious and long-lasting effects in survivors.

(NAN)