Lassa fever epidemic has claimed two lives in Abia and Edo states as the country approaches the season for outbreaks of the toxic disease.
According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Lassa fever is known to be prevalent in Nigeria with the peak period anticipated from December through June.
Recent figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC confirmed that ten new cases of the disease in five states which includes: Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Abia. In those new cases, one person each died in Edo and Abia states.
According to the Centre, from January 1st to November 10tha total of 4,500 suspected cases were reported from 23 states. Though, 764 were confirmed positive and 19 probable.
It noted that since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there had been 160 deaths with Case Fatality Ratio, CFR in confirmed cases at 20.9 per cent. It observed that the predominant age group affected as 21 to 40 years, equally distributed to both genders.
