138 Deaths Reported
The number of deaths from the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria since the beginning of this year has reached 138. Nigerian public health officials announced this on Thursday. Public health officials fear that the death toll may rise in the coming days.
Hundreds of Cases Reported
Nigerian public health officials have reported 717 cases of Lassa fever in the country so far this year. According to the information, at least 18 out of the country’s 36 states have been affected by this viral hemorrhagic disease. The southern state of Ondo and the northern states of Bauchi and Taraba are the most affected, accounting for over 71% of the total Lassa fever cases nationwide.
Hospitals on High Alert
The Nigerian Ministry of Health has placed hospitals across the country on high alert. They have also instructed hospitals to conduct more tests to identify and treat those suffering from the fever in a timely manner.