According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 16 new cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed in five states in Nigeria.
This information was made known to the public by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, 6th April, 2019 while giving an update about the disease and efforts by the centre to check it.
The report of the 16 new cases of Lassa fever in the country brought the number of confirmed cases 526 out of the 2,034 suspected cases since 1st January 2019 in 21 states.
He also state that during the period under review, a total of 121 deaths had been recorded since the onset of the outbreak.
Further information by Chikwe Ihekweazu reveal that states with at least one confirmed case are Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi, Cross River, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna and Kwara states
He also added that during the week under review, one health worker was infected with the disease in Plateau bringing it to a total number of 17 healthcare workers in seven states since the outbreak of the disease.
Chikwe Ihekweazu also stated that 29 patients have been hospitalised at the designated centres. He said that 10 were hospitalised in Irrua, 9 in Owo, three in Abakiliki, two in Bauchi, three in Plateau, two in Taraba.
Chikwe Ihekweazu stated that 6,489 people suspected to have contacts with those infected had been identified across 20 states. He said that 1,443 of the suspected contacts were being followed up, while 4,983 had completed the mandatory 21 days of follow up to and have been declared symptom free. He also said that 112 symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 55 tested positive.
The NCDC boss assured that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre will continue to coordinate the response activities at all levels.
