Confirmed cases of Lassa fever rise to 81

The number of newly confirmed cases of Lassa fever across the country have increased from 64 in the first week of this year to 81, as shown by reported instances from Ondo, Edo, Delta, Taraba, Plateau and Bauchi states.

Situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed that the number of deaths has, however, reduced as the overall case fatality rate (CFR) for 2020 stood at 14.7 per cent, compared to the 23.4 per cent CFR for the same period of 2019.

The agency noted that nine states have recorded at least one confirmed case in 32 local government areas.

According to NCDC, out of the 89 per cent of all confirmed cases, Edo and Ondo recorded 38 per cent while Ebonyi recorded 11 per cent, adding that the number of suspected cases has increased, but lower than the numbers reported last year.