Lassa fever death toll in Nigeria reaches 70

The number of people who have died from Lassa fever in Nigeria has risen to 70, the country’s Centre for Disease control announced on Tuesday. 

The health agency stated in its weekly report that there were 482 suspected cases of the disease, 104 confirmed cases and eight deaths this week.

Confirmed cases of Lassa fever have now been reported in 26 states, confirming that the disease is in fact spreading across the country. 

So far a total of 472 confirmed cases have resulted in 70 deaths in Nigeria, representing a fatality rate of 14.8% 

The states worst affected are Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi, which make up 74% of all confirmed cases. The disease is most prevalent among those aged 21-30, with men more disproportionately affected than women. 

The current outbreak of Lassa fever became an epidemic in Nigeria in November 2019 and is expected to escalate until May this year. Although the disease is treatable, it continues to cause a high number of deaths. 

Photo: Reuters