NCDC Report 172 People Don Die from Lassa Fever

Di Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) don talk say 172 people don die from Lassa fever for 21 states, with Case Fatality Rate (CFR) wey don rise reach 18.6%, pass di 17% wey dem record for same time in 2024. For dia Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 40 (Sept. 29 – Oct. 5), NCDC talk say dem don confirm 924 cases out of 8,041 suspected ones from 106 Local Government Areas. Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba and Ebonyi states na di major hotspots, with Ondo alone carrying 35% of all confirmed cases. From Week 39 to Week 40, confirmed cases rise from 4 to 13, all from Ondo. Di most affected age group na between 21–30 years, and dem say men still plenty pass women for di cases. No new infection among health workers this week.

NCDC blame late hospital visits and poor health-seeking behaviour for di high death rate, plus bad environmental sanitation and low awareness for communities. Dem don send 10 national rapid response teams to di affected states, train health workers, do awareness campaign, and share Ribavirin, PPEs and thermometers to treatment centres. Other steps include INTEGRATE clinical trial for Ondo, capacity training for doctors, and sanitation campaigns for high-risk states. Dem beg states to work more with communities to detect cases early and send patients for quick treatment. Dem also warn health workers make dem no dull, make dem suspect Lassa quick and treat fast to save lives. Lassa fever na viral sickness wey dey spread through food or items wey rat don piss or poo on, and fit also pass from person to person, especially for hospitals wey no get strict infection control. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, bleeding and for serious cases, organ failure. Di disease dey peak between December and April.