The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirms seven additional Lassa fever cases in Edo, Bauchi, and Kogi states, intensifying efforts to combat the outbreak.
New Cases Emerge
Notably, Edo state records four new cases, Bauchi reports two, and Kogi records one case between July 22 and July 28. Fortunately, no deaths occur during this period, indicating effective response measures.
2024 Lassa Fever Statistics Take Shape
To date, the NCDC reports 163 deaths from Lassa fever in 2024, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 17.0%, slightly lower than the 17.3% recorded during the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, the total number of cases continues to rise.
Geographical Distribution Revealed
Significantly, Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states account for 66% of confirmed cases in 2024, while 34% of cases emerge from 25 other states. Consequently, a total of 28 states record at least one confirmed case of this disease across 125 local government areas.
Challenges in Combatting Lassa Fever Persist
The NCDC identifies several challenges hindering efforts to combat it, including:
- Late presentation of cases, leading to increased CFR
- Poor health-seeking behavior due to high treatment costs
- Inadequate clinical management of the disease
- Poor environmental sanitation in high-burden communities
- Limited awareness in affected communities
Next Steps
Moving forward, the NCDC intensifies surveillance, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns to combat the spread of Lassa fever. Furthermore, collaborative efforts with state governments and healthcare providers aim to enhance response strategies and mitigate the outbreak’s impact.
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