By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews 

On April 28, Nigerian health officials declared the emergency phase of the 2020 Lassa fever outbreak over after reporting the largest Lassa fever outbreak ever reported in any country, ‘anywhere in the world’.

The Lassa fever cases do continue and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported nine additional cases during the most recent reported week, bringing the total confirmed case count to 1,000 through May 10.

The nine new cases were reported from four States (Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi and Kogi).

One additional Lassa fever death in a confirmed case was reported putting the death toll at 192.

Aedes aegypti mosquito

Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and cases are recorded all year round. The Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents which can be found in our environment. This contributes largely to the risk of spread that occurs in Nigeria and other countries with similar ecological factors.

Lassa fever is largely transmitted through contact with items or surfaces contaminated with urine, feces, saliva or blood of infected rats. It can also be transmitted from person-to-person through contact with blood, urine, feces and other body fluids of an infected person. To minimize the risk of infection, members of the public are advised to ensure their environment is always kept clean to avoid contact with rodents.