The National Centre for Disease Control on Friday said six persons had been confirmed dead after contacting Lassa fever in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Taraba and Cross River states.
In its latest report on the outbreak of the disease in the country, the NCDC said that between January 1 and February 24,2019, a total of 1,249 suspected cases had been reported from 21 states including the Federal Capital Territory, out of which 381 cases were confirmed positive.
The centre also said that between February 18 and 24,2019,23 new cases were reported from Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Taraba, Gombe, Kaduna and Cross River states, while 15 health workers have so far been infected.
The NCDC, in its report, said, “Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 83 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 21.8 per cent. Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa,
Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 66 council areas.
“Two new healthcare workers were affected in Edo State. A total of 15 healthcare workers have been infected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states. Fifty five patients are currently being managed at various treatment centres across the country.”
As part of efforts being made to curb the disease, the NCDC said it had provided an ambulance to Federal Medical Centre, Owo Infection Control Centre, while the national Lassa fever multi-partner and multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre continued to coordinate the response activities at all levels. Also involved in the effort are the Federal Ministry of Agricultural and the Federal Ministry of Environment.
