Nigeria/Lassa fever kills 20 in one week

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 109 new cases of Lassa fever and 20 deaths across 16 states in one week (February 26 to March 3). 

The NCDC published this information in its latest situation report on its website for the ninth week of 2024. 

The report noted an increase in confirmed cases from 96 in the eighth week to 109 in the ninth week, with eight new healthcare workers affected during the reporting week. 

From the first to the ninth week, the country recorded 682 confirmed cases and 128 deaths, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.8 percent, the report revealed. 

The affected states are: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Benue, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Rivers, Ogun and Oyo. 

The report said 62% of all confirmed cases were reported from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states, while 38% were from the 24 states where cases were confirmed.