Nigeria records 26 Lassa Fever deaths in 3 weeks

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said the country has recorded 115 confirmed cases and 26 deaths from Lassa fever this year, DailyTrust reports. 

 The NCDC in a statement on Wednesday signed by its Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said the cases were reported from 30 Local Government Areas across 11 states.

 “Furthermore, the reports in weeks 1 and 2 show the highest number of confirmed cases,” the statement read in parts. 

 Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodents infected with the Lassa fever virus. 

 Person-to-person transmission can also occur, particularly in a hospital environment with inadequate infection control measures.

 NCDC said it has activated the national multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary Lassa fever Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in response to the Lassa fever outbreak in some parts of the country.

 “This became necessary given the increase in the number of confirmed Lassa fever cases across the country and a joint risk assessment with partners and sister agencies,” it said.