Source:
https://punchng.com/ncdc-expert-warn-as-lassa-fever-kills-152/
NCDC, expert warn as Lassa fever kills 152
Deborah Tolu-Kolawole
25 May 2022
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has disclosed that death toll from the 2022 outbreak of Lassa fever is now 152.
The centre made this known in its latest Lassa fever situation report obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday.
The PUNCH reports that Lassa fever, an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness spread by the common African rat also known as the mastomys rat species is endemic to Nigeria and some other West African countries.
Since the last outbreak of the disease in 2016, the NCDC noted that there had been an increase in the number of recurring cases.
In 2019, the centre noted that 796 cases were reported, while in 2020, 1,165 cases were confirmed during the height of the pandemic.
The NCDC also confirmed a total of 4,632 suspected cases in 2021.
The centre stated, “So far in 2022, 152 people have lost their lives; the highest deaths reported in four years.
“Cumulatively, from week 1 to week 18 in 2022, 152 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 19.6%.
“In total, for 2022, 23 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 95 local government areas. Of all confirmed cases, 68% are from states namely, Ondo (28%), Edo (25%) and Bauchi (15%).
“The predominant age-group affected is 21-30 years (range:1 to 80 years, median age: 30 years). The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.”
The NCDC noted that while 51 health workers have been affected, 723 persons have been hospitalized...