The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has disclosed that the death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria in 2022 was 189 while the number of confirmed cases was 1,067 across 27 states and 112 local government areas.
The report, according to the Centre, “In week 52, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 17 in week 51, 2022, to 12 cases. These were reported from Edo, Ebonyi, and Benue states.
Cumulatively from week 1 to week 52, 2022, 189 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 17.7 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (20.0 per cent). In total for 2022, 27 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 112 Local Government Areas.
“72 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 23 per cent were reported from 24 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 72 per cent of confirmed cases, Ondo State reported 33 per cent, Edo 25 per cent, and Bauchi 14 per cent.
The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 90 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
According to the 52nd-week report of the Centre from December 26 to January 1, 2023, the number of suspected cases stood at 8,202 while 63 health care workers were infected by the disease.