Nigeria confirms 143 people were killed by Lassa – Xinhua fever

ABUJA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) – Nigeria confirmed Thursday that at least 143 people were killed this year by Lassa fever, an endemic disease in several countries in West Africa.

Citing data collected from January to November, the Nigerian Disease Control Center (NCDC) reports that 3,016 suspected cases were recorded during this period.

Of these, 559 cases of Lassa fever were confirmed positive, 17 observed as probable cases and 2,440 confirmed negative cases.

Acute viral haemorrhagic fever has been reported in 22 states and 90 local government areas since the first case was detected on 1 January.

A spokesman for NCDC, Chimeie Anueyiagu, told reporters in Abuja that the death rate has so far been confirmed at 22.6 percent.

Anueyiagu said there were projects undergoing revision of current guidelines and development of a five-year strategic plan to combat Lassa fever in Nigeria.

He added that the NCDC was collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of research to determine if there was another animal that was spreading the virus.

Countries in West Africa, Ghana, Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone also reported Lassa fever cases this year.