Despite a recent decline in the number of new infections, Nigeria is facing an alarming rise in the death rate from Lassa fever, sparking concern among health authorities.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the country recorded 65 new cases in the last week of February, a decrease from 77 cases reported the previous week. However, the case fatality rate has surged to over 23 percent, a stark increase from just under 19 percent during the same period last year. This means the disease is proving lethal in a significantly higher proportion of those infected.
Health officials attribute this worrying trend primarily to delays in patients seeking medical care. The NCDC also points to persistent challenges such as poor sanitation and low awareness in communities with a high burden of the disease as contributing factors. Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria, with the first identified cases dating back to 1969 in the northern town of Lassa.
The virus, which belongs to the same family as Ebola and Marburg, can cause severe symptoms including fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding, particularly when diagnosis is delayed. While 80 percent of cases are asymptomatic, the current rise in fatalities highlights the dangers of late intervention. Notably, individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 are currently the most affected, and infections among healthcare workers have also increased.
In response, the NCDC is intensifying efforts to curb the outbreak. The agency is supporting local authorities with enhanced surveillance and contact tracing, deploying rapid response teams to hotspots, and distributing personal protective equipment to health facilities. With no licensed vaccine available for Lassa fever, these public health measures are crucial to preventing further deaths.
Source:AfricanNews
