The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Saturday has confirmed 15 new cases of Lassa fever from six states in Nigeria.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who made this known on Saturday in Abuja, said that the 15 new cases brought the number of confirmed cases to 510 out of the 1,924 suspected cases since Jan. 1 in 21 states.

He also said that a total of 119 deaths had been recorded since the onset of the outbreak.

Ihekweazu said Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River states each recorded at least one confirmed case.

He noted that no new health worker was affected, adding that a total of 16 healthcare workers had so far been affected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states.

The NCDC boss said 32 patients were hospitalised at the designated centres.

He said that 13 were hospitalised in Irrua, 9 in Owo, three in Abakiliki, three in Bauchi, three in Plateau, two in Taraba.

Ihekweazu also said that a total of 6320 people suspected to have contacts with those infected had been identified across 20 states.

He said that 1,567 of the suspected contacts were being followed while 4,690 had completed the mandatory 21 days of follow up to be sure they show no symptoms.

He also said 110 symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 55 tested positive.

The NCDC boss said that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre will continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels. (NAN)

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