Cholera, Lassa fever persist in nine states

Latest figures published yesterday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicate that Lassa fever and cholera persist in some states of the country.

The Situation Report confirmed 15 cases of Lassa fever in Ondo and Edo states, with two deaths in Edo within the last two weeks.

Also, the NCDC has confirmed 1,583 cases of cholera with 22 deaths in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Delta, Kano, Katsina and Plateau states.

The Centre said new suspected cases of cholera were reported in Lagos on October 31, 2019, and that the state’s Ministry of Health was currently carrying out investigations.

According to NCDC, 35 new suspected cases were reported from Adamawa. It, however, said there was 38 per cent decline in cases reported in Adamawa in October 2019 compared to September.

Meanwhile, it said that from January 1 to November 3, 2019, a total of 4,396 suspected cases of Lassa fever had been reported from 23 states, and 754 were confirmed positive, 19 probable and 3623 negatives.

Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 158 deaths in confirmed cases and CFR in confirmed cases is 21 per cent. It noted that one confirmed case was recorded in 23 states, it added.

The Centre said that nine patients “are being managed” at various treatment centres across the country: seven at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State; and two at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State.

It disclosed 8,400 contacts had been identified from 21 states, and 356 (4.2 per cent) being followed up, 7967 (94.8 per cent) have completed 21 days follow up, while 12 (0.1 per cent) were lost to follow up.