Lassa Fever: Fatality Rate Rises To 19.1 Percent In Nigeria

Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Minister of State for Health, has expressed his concern over the rising cases of Lassa fever as the fatality rate for this disease has risen to 19.1 per cent. Dr. Mamora, whom had disclosed this information at a press briefing in Abuja, stated there had been 3746 suspected cases, in 23 States and 681 confirmed cases with 132 deaths currently.

He also made notice that a part of the government’s response/Interventions to Lassa Fever was an enforcement of environmental sanitation as well as a strong focus on the Long term improvement of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in order to eliminate Cholera. On COVID-19, he said that as of the 10th of April 2022, 4,969,571 million Nigerians had been tested for COVID-19 by using either the Polymerase Chain Reaction or the Rapid Diagnostic Test.

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He further explained that there had been an increase in Lagos State, a decline in FCT, as well as a stability in Kaduna, Kwara and Rivers State while others cannot be ascertained.

“As of the 11th of April, 2022 the reports acquired from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control revealed that approximately 255,468 Nigerians have already tested positive to the virus. There are currently 2,719 active cases while 249,607 people have been treated and discharged, and 3,142 have lost their lives.”

However, Mamora said despite all efforts, a lot still has to be done to reach the 50 per cent eligible population vaccinated by second quarter of the year 2022.

“The total number of eligible population fully vaccinated with first and second dose as at 10%,” he said.