41 killed by Lassa Fever in 19 states – Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, revealed that 41 people have died out of the 258 Lassa Fever cases confirmed in 19 states in Nigeria. The disease is endemic due to the country’s ecological profile. He emphasized the need for collective responsibility in curbing the spread of the disease and pointed out that the overall case-fatality rate for 2020 has been about 15 per cent, a decrease from 20 per cent in 2019.
Ehanire stated that Lassa fever is indigenous to Nigeria and occurs annually, particularly in the dry season. The majority of cases have been reported from Ebonyi, Edo, and Ondo states. He also confirmed the activation of a National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to coordinate responses to the outbreak.
The EOC, which was...