The death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak of Lassa fever has risen to 173, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.
It stated that this represents a Case Fatality Rate (CFR), of 18.9 per cent.
Its director-general, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Friday in Abuja, while giving an update of on the Lassa fever outbreak.
He said amidst the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country, the agency had continued to manage a national Lassa fever outbreak, adding that in week 12, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 51 cases in week 11, to 28 cases.
Ihekweazu said these were reported case in 12 states, Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, FCT, Benue and Gombe.
“This is cumulatively from week one to week 12, 173 deaths have been reported with CFR of 18.9 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2019 with 22.9 per cent. In total for 2020, 27 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 125 local government areas.
“Of all confirmed cases, 72 per cent are from three states, which are Edo, with 33 per cent, Ondo with 32 per cent and Ebonyi with seven per cent. The predominant age-group affected is 21 to 30 years, range: from one to 78 years, Median Age: 33 years. The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:1.2.”
He also said the number of suspected cases had significantly increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2019, adding, “With joy that there were no healthcare workers affected in the reporting week 12.”
The NCDC boss also disclosed that the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) had been activated to coordinate response activities across states.
He said the NCDC was working to support every state in Nigeria to identify one treatment centre, while supporting existing ones with care, treatment and IPC commodities.
