It is estimated that at least 200 Nigerians have died from Lassa fever in the first 11 months of 2023, data by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, shows.
Lassa fever is preventable with good hygiene and treatable if presented early at hospitals.
Over 1,170 confirmed cases of the disease were recorded across the country within that period, indicating a fatality rate of 17 per cent in Africa’s largest country, in terms of population and economic size.
The details of the disease, spread by rodents, were released on Saturday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on its website, Premium Times reported.
In a statement on its website, the NCDC said the data was from 1 January to 3 December and the confirmed cases were recorded in 28 states and 114 LGAs across the country.
The statement, signed by the Director-General of NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa, indicates that the 1,170 confirmed cases were from 8,542 suspected cases of Lassa fever.
Mr Adetifa said Nigeria has continued to record a steady increase in states reporting Lassa fever due to improved surveillance, better community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change and other deleterious human activities in the environment.
He said in 2021, 510 confirmed cases were reported across 17 states and 68 LGAs and in 2022, Nigeria reported 1067 confirmed cases across 27 States and 112 LGAs.
“In 2023 alone, 28 states and 114 LGAs have reported confirmed cases of Lassa fever and as of December 3, there have been 8542 suspected cases, 1170 confirmed cases, and 200 deaths (case fatality rate of 17.1 per cent) suggesting 2023 may witness record numbers of cases,” he said.
Mr Adetifa noted that Lassa fever outbreaks also involve the infection and death of healthcare workers.
He said such a victim is not just a loved family member, but a spouse, a parent, and often a seasoned healthcare worker and team member.
