The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said that 29 deaths and 195 confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been reported in 11 states.

 

Director-General, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, explained that the current figures were as of Friday, January 24.

 

Ihekweazu said out of the confirmed cases, 89 per cent were from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi states.

 

The NCDC boss said that the increased number of cases at this time of the year was not unusual due to ecological factors.

 

According to the report, 398 suspected cases were reported out of which 163 cases were confirmed while 235 cases were found to be negative.

 

In total, at least one confirmed case was recorded across 32 Local Government Areas in nine states.

 

Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire speaks on the disease during a condolence visit to the families of doctors killed by LASSA fever.