It was reported that within one week, Nigeria detected 12 cases of Lassa fever, a viral illness prevalent in West African countries.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), 12 individuals were diagnosed with Lassa fever within the span of a week.
The statement further explained that the Lassa fever outbreak had spread to 124 regions across 28 states within the country.
The document also highlighted that the total number of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria had risen to 1001 since January, resulting in 179 fatalities from the epidemic.
The Nigerian government disclosed the identification of three drugs for treating the disease.
Lassa fever outbreaks typically surge between November and May each year during the dry season. Last year, 674 cases were recorded, resulting in 102 deaths.
The first encounter with the Lassa fever epidemic in Nigeria dates back to 1969 in Borno state.
Lassa fever, prevalent in numerous African nations including Mali, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, was initially discovered in Nigeria in 1969 within Borno state, located in the northeast.
On January 23, 2019, the Nigerian government declared a state of emergency due to Lassa fever.
The disease, transmitted through contact with rat excrement, can be transmitted from person to person and leads to fatal hemorrhagic fever.
Authorities issued warnings advising the public to avoid contact with rats and other rodents.