Lassa Fever Outbreak Claims 72 Lives in Nigeria
Abuja: Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is grappling with a significant outbreak of Lassa fever, with public health authorities reporting at least 72 fatalities since the start of the year.
According to the latest report from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), there have been a total of 411 confirmed cases of the viral hemorrhagic fever across 21 states since January. Sixty-five percent of these cases originate from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, with the remaining 35 percent distributed across 18 other states.
While the number of cases this year has decreased compared to the same period in 2023 – from 8,280 suspected cases to 2,122 cases – the outbreak remains a significant concern. Among those affected, two health workers have also been impacted, w...