The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 80 deaths and 413 cases of Lassa fever across 11 states between February 3 and 9, 2024, pushing the fatality rate to 19.4%, a rise from 17.5% recorded in the same period last year.
The NCDC, in a statement, said, Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states account for 73% of all confirmed cases, with Ondo alone reporting 34%. It said while the number of new infections declined from 68 in the previous week to 54, the increasing death toll remains a major concern.
The most affected demographic is adults aged 21 to 30, with slightly more male than female cases recorded.
The commission said it has activated its Incident Management System and deployed rapid response teams to Gombe, Nasarawa, and Benue states to curb the spread of the disease.
