By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Nigerian health officials reported five additional confirmed Lassa fever cases the week ending May 3, including two deaths a week after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) declared the emergency phase of the 2020 Lassa fever outbreak over.
Lassa fever cases have dropped dramatically from the weekly high of 115 cases in mid-February.
Since the beginning of the year, Nigeria has seen 991 confirmed cases, including 191 deaths among the confirmed cases (19.3% CFR).
The 5 cases reported last week were reported from 4 States (Ondo, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi).
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever illness that is known to be endemic in various West African countries including Nigeria and causes outbreaks almost every year in different parts of the region, with yearly peaks observed between December and June.
Lassa fever is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or feces. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur.
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