FG develops plan against Lassa fever

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with partners, federal and state stakeholders of the Technical Working Group (TWG), has developed a five-year strategic plan to reduce Lassa fever fatality ratio in the country to less than 10 per cent.

Director General of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, made the disclosure yesterday during an update on COVID-19 pandemic response and development in the health sector organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and other partners.

He said, to date, there were 8,202 suspected cases of Lassa fever, 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 LGAs of the country.

He further said that cumulatively, from week one  to week 52 last year, 189 deaths had been reported, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 17.7 per cent), which was lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (20.0 per cent).

The NCDC boss noted that 72 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2022 were reported from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states.

(Daily Trust)