Nigeria’s disease control agency has reported that Lassa fever has spread to nine states across the country since the beginning of the year. The agency stated that 165 cases of Lassa fever have been recorded in the country within five weeks, and the outbreak has resulted in 31 deaths.
135 CASES UNDER MANAGEMENT
According to the agency, 135 cases are currently being managed in treatment centers nationwide, and contact tracing is underway for at least 110 suspected cases.
215 DEATHS REPORTED LAST YEAR
Last year, Lassa virus claimed the lives of 215 people across Nigeria. The disease, which is found in several African countries including Mali, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, was first identified in the Borno state of Nigeria in 1969. This outbreak underscores the ongoing public health challenges posed by Lassa fever in the region.
DISEASE CAN SPREAD FROM PERSON TO PERSON
The illness, transmitted through contact with rat feces, can also spread between people and can lead to fatal hemorrhagic fever. Authorities are urging the public to avoid contact with rats and other rodents. The Nigerian government declared an emergency in response to Lassa fever on January 23, 2019.
