The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a concerning increase in Lassa fever cases as the country navigates epidemiological week 41 of 2024.

The NCDC said in its latest Lassa Fever Situation Report, published on its official website, that in week 41, 10 new confirmed cases were reported, compared to just seven in the previous week.

The public health agency said the new cases had been recorded across Ondo, Edo, Benue, and Taraba states, highlighting a worrying trend as the nation grapples with the virus.

Cumulatively, the agency said there had been 174 reported deaths this year, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 16.8 per cent. It said this was slightly lower than the 17.2 per cent CFR reported during the same period in 2023.

“The total number of confirmed cases has now risen to 8,569 across 28 states and 129 local government areas.

“Notably, 68 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2024 have originated from three states: Ondo 28 per cent, Edo 23 per cent and Bauchi 17 per cent.

“The predominant age group affected is between 31 to 40 years, and there is an equal gender distribution among confirmed cases, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.,” it said.

The NCDC, however, said no new healthcare workers were reported to be affected during week 41, reflecting ongoing efforts to safeguard medical personnel amidst the outbreak.

It said the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group continued to coordinate response activities, focusing on robust contact tracing and community engagement.

According to the NCDC, the challenges remain, including inadequate funding for preparedness activities and poor health-seeking behaviour in affected communities due to the high costs associated with treatment.

It said environmental sanitation conditions in high-burden areas also required urgent attention to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“Efforts are underway to improve public awareness and readiness through various initiatives, including risk communication strategies, training sessions for healthcare providers, and ongoing community engagement campaigns,” it said.

As the outbreak continues, stakeholders underlined the importance of timely reporting and seeking medical care to reduce the impact of Lassa fever across the nation.

The World Health Organisation has identified Lassa fever as a pathogen with high potential for severe outbreaks. It poses a growing threat as climate change puts an estimated 700 million people at risk.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, and in severe cases, facial swelling and bleeding. Survivors often suffer from long-term complications such as deafness.

As Nigeria battles the Lassa fever outbreak, public health experts said that concerted efforts are required from both the government and the general public to avert further loss of lives.

(NAN)