Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it recorded 25 new cases of Lassa fever between February 11 and February 17 across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known on Friday in Abuja.
Ihekweazu said that the 25 new cases brought the number of confirmed cases to 355 out of 1,139 suspected cases recorded since January 1 in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said under the reporting week 07 that out of the total cases, three were probable while 781 tested negative.
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He said that a total of 75 deaths had been recorded since the onset of the outbreak.
According to him, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo and Kebbi states as well as FCT each recorded at least one confirmed case.
He noted that one new health worker was affected in Edo state, adding that a total of 13 healthcare workers had so far been affected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states.
The NCDC boss said 88 patients were hospitalised at the designated centres.
He said that 31 were hospitalised in Irrua, 28 in Owo, three in Abakiliki, 11 in Bauchi, seven in Plateau, seven in Taraba and one in Kebbi.
Ihekweazu also said that a total of 3,872 people suspected to have contacts with those infected had been identified across 18 states.
He stressed that 2,600 of the suspected contacts were being followed while 1,227 had completed the mandatory 21 days of follow up to be sure they show no symptoms.
He also stated that four persons died of the disease during the follow up while 63 symptomatic contacts had been identified of whom 41 tested positive. (NAN)
