The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed three deaths and eight new cases of Lassa fever within the last week in its latest update.
The new confirmed cases were documented from the following States: Edo (three), Ondo (two), Ebonyi (one), Plateau (one), and Taraba (one) with three confirmed new deaths from Ondo (one), Ebonyi (one) Taraba (one) and one death from a prior confirmed case in Kogi state.
From January 1, 2018, to April 8, 2018, a total of 1,781 suspected cases were reported from a network of 20 states. 408 of these cases have been confirmed positive, 1,351 negative, 9 probable cases with 13 awaiting Laboratory results. To date, there have been 101 confirmed deaths from Lassa fever with the fatality ratio in confirmed cases at 24.8%.
Statistics from the NCDC show that 81% of all confirmed cases are from Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi States with Edo topping at 42% while the other states are at 23% and 16% respectively. Fifteen cases are presently being managed in treatment centers across six states: Edo (four), Ebonyi (five), Ondo (four), Plateau (one), and Osun (one).
4,480 contacts from 20 states have been pinpointed by the NCDC. Of these, 14.8% are currently being followed up, 85% have already completed the 21-day follow up and 0.2% is yet to be followed up.
