NCDC Records High Number of Lassa Fever Cases Across The Country

 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 1,068 Lassa fever cases across 112 Local Government Areas in 28 states of Nigeria. The NCDC said the suspected cases are now 7,352 and that the disease has killed no fewer than 181 persons in the country. The Center for Disease Control made this information public via a Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 7 on  its official website. The centre also stated that the case-fatality ratio of the infection stood at 16.9 per cent with the predominantly affected age group being between 21-30 year olds.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. Humans usually become infected with Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats or through food and household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected rodents. The disease was first identified in Nigeria in Borno State in 1969 and is endemic in Nigeria. Transmission occurs throughout the year. However, large seasonal outbreaks occur during the dry season.