By ABUJAH RACHEAL

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Lassa fever has claimed 127 lives across 18 states in Nigeria as of Epidemiological Week 14.

According to the NCDC, Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states account for more than 70 per cent of confirmed infections.

In its latest weekly situation report released on Tuesday, the NCDC disclosed that 674 confirmed cases have been recorded from 4,025 suspected cases between January and April 6.

It said that the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) stood at 18.8, per cent slightly higher than the 18.5 per cent reported within the same period in 2024.

The Nigerian Public Health data revealed that five new deaths occurred in Week 14 alone, with 15 confirmed cases reported from Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Gombe states.

?The burden remains highest in Ondo (30 per cent), Bauchi (25 per cent), and Edo (16 per cent), which collectively contributes to 71 per cent of all confirmed cases,? the NCDC said.

The Agency also said that young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 remained the most affected, with the median age of infection reported at 30 years.

It further noted that more males than females were being affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8.

In spite of the high fatality rate, NCDC said that no new healthcare worker infections were recorded during the reporting week.

It said however that 20 health workers have been infected since the start of the year, underscoring the continued occupational risk.

The NCDC highlighted the ongoing challenges to include late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, high cost of treatment, and poor environmental sanitation in high-burden communities.

In response to the outbreak, it noted that the Federal Government had activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate national response efforts.

?Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to affected states including Gombe, Nasarawa, and Benue,? it said.

Additionally, the agency said it had launched community-based active case searches, geospatial risk mapping, and webinars for clinical management in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, CEPI, and other partners.

?Interventions also include sensitisation campaigns, distribution of PPEs, Ribavirin, body bags, and hygiene kits to treatment centres, along with the dissemination of public advisories and outbreak updates,? the NCDC said.

It urged Nigerians to take preventive measures seriously, especially in high-risk areas, and to report early symptoms of fever, malaise, and unexplained bleeding to the nearest health facility.

The NCDC said that it would continue to stress a One Health approach, engaging communities, human and animal health sectors, and development partners to combat the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats.

It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or infected medical equipment.

The Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from body openings. (NAN)

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