Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole Thursday announced that Lassa fever has recorded 108 deaths from 176 cases so far reported
Adewole disclosed this on Thursday while giving an update on Lassa fever and the outbreak of Zika virus in the Southern America..
According to him, “As at today the 10th of February 2016 Nigeria has recorded 176 cases with 108 deaths given a case fatality rate of 61.4%. Out of this 78 are confirmed cases and 49 deaths given a specific case fatality rate of 62.8%.
“The total cases reported (suspected, probable and confirmed): 176; Total deaths (suspected, probable and confirmed): 108 (CFR: 61.4%). Total confirmed cases: 78; Deaths in confirmed cases: 49 (CFR: 62.8%).
“As at today, 20 states are currently following up contacts, or have suspected or probable cases with laboratory results pending or laboratory confirmed cases.
“It is important that I inform the nation that this current outbreak is under control as evidenced by decline in new suspected cases, new laboratory confirmed cases and newly reported cases by week”.
The minister noted further that despite this achievement however, “you will agree with me that it will be dangerous if we go complacent at this stage, as we could record another flare-up and a second wave deep in the dry season.
“I have instructed the NCDC to work closely with the Lassa Fever Eradication Committee and other partners to develop a Lassa Fever Control strategy that will withstand the test of time.
