Lassa fever death toll hits 40, spreads to 10 states

Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, on Friday confirmed that death toll from the recent Lassa fever outbreak in the country is now 40.



Prof. Adewole, said that the disease has also spread to ten states since the last six weeks when the first case was reported in November.

The death toll represents over 43 per cent of the 86 cases reported so far.

“In the last six weeks Nigeria has been experiencing Lassa fever outbreak which so far has affected 10 states in the country.

“The states affected include Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo state.

“The total number so far reported is 86 and 40 deaths with the mortality rate of 45%.

“Our laboratories have confirmed 22 cases so far, indicative of a new round trip of Lassa fever outbreak,” he said.

In response to this reported outbreak, the Minister enumerated a number of measures taken by the Federal Ministry of Health under his leadership to curtail further spread and reduce mortality among those affected.