Nigeria Reports Surge in Lassa Fever Cases and Deaths
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recently disclosed that there have been 6,704 suspected cases of Lassa fever and 162 fatalities across 125 local government areas in 28 states as of June 9, 2024. From these suspected cases, 911 have been confirmed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, part of the arenavirus family. Humans generally contract the disease through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic among rodent populations in parts of West Africa. The NCDC reported that the case fatality rate (CFR) stands at 17.8%, which is an increase from the 17.1% CFR during the same period in 2023. "In total for 2024, 28 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 125 Local Government Areas," the NCDC stated. A significant portion of confirmed cases, 65%, has been r...