Nigeria has recorded 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of 8,569 suspected cases, with 174 deaths in 28 states across 129 Local Government Areas (LGAs) as of October 13, 2024.
The country has also recorded 380 confirmed cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis out of 4,915 suspected cases, with 361 deaths in 24 states across 174 LGAs during the 2023/2024 season, according to The PUNCH.
Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), disclosed these figures on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja.
Dr Idris explained that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the NCDC, leads efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to Lassa fever cases across the country each year.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, with the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat) being its natural reservoir. Other rodents can also act as carriers of the virus.
“We have continued to see a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases. This rise is due, in part, to improved surveillance, better community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change, and other harmful human activities.
“In 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 local government areas. In 2023, 28 states and 114 local government areas reported confirmed cases, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths. As of October 13, 2024, 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases, and 174 deaths have been reported across 28 states and 129 local government areas.
“The disease also leads to significant loss of livelihood in the communities it affects. Heads of households are unable to work when exposed to Lassa fever, and when other household members are infected, the cost of care and treatment, which is often significant, strains existing household income, pushing families toward poverty in a swift turn of events,” he stated.
