National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Health authorities in Nigeria have disclosed that Lassa Fever has claimed the lives of no fewer than 156 in Nigeria in four months.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports a staggering 857 cases of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF), marking a grim milestone for the nation.
In its recent report spanning from January to 28th April, the NCDC notes a concerning Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.2%, surpassing last year’s 17.0%.
The outbreak spans across 28 states, with Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi bearing the brunt, accounting for 63% of cases, while 37% are scattered across 25 other states.
Comparing to the previous year, suspected cases surge from 5,084 to 5,963, painting a dire picture of the epidemic’s grip on the nation.
Despite efforts, challenges persist, including delayed presentation of cases, exacerbated by high treatment costs and inadequate health-seeking behaviors.
The NCDC activates a national multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate responses, but poor environmental conditions and lack of awareness in affected communities hamper efforts.
Meanwhile, the fight against Lassa Fever intensifying, Nigeria faces a long road ahead in containing this deadly outbreak.
