Monday 27th December 2021: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has disclosed that no fewer than 92 persons, including health workers, have lost their lives to Lassa fever and 425 individuals are currently hospitalised.

NCDC disclosed this in its weekly Lassa fever situation report.

Lassa fever, also known as Lassa haemorrhagic, is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.

The disease, which is endemic in Nigeria, occurs during the dry seasons and is said to be a result of exposure to foods or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected mastomys rats.

The NCDC said, “425 are undergoing treatment in treatment centres, 10 health workers infected as 92 people dead. 4,273 are suspected to have been infected in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Of all confirmed cases, 83 per cent are from Edo (43 per cent), Ondo (35 per cent) and Taraba (five per cent) states.”

According to a message by the NCDC, it appealed to health workers to “maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, be vigilant and look out for symptoms of Lassa fever”, adding, “Not all fevers are malaria.”

It noted that in 2019, a total of 796 cases while 1,165 cases were confirmed in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Director-General, NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said the NCDC had sent alert letters to states to inform them of the looming outbreak of Lassa fever.

“The five Lassa fever molecular laboratories in the NCDC network are working full capacity to ensure that all samples are tested and results provided within the shortest turnaround time,” he added.