Since the onset of the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria in December 2016,  247 suspected cases have been reported with 73 confirmed cases.

Nigeria
Nigeria map/CIA

A total of 43 deaths have been recorded so far (37 in confirmed cases and 6 in probable cases). The case fatality rate for all cases is 21.5 percent and for all confirmed/probable cases is 54.4 percent, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

This has prompted the Nigerian House of Representatives to mandate its Committees on Health Institutions and Healthcare Services to investigate the recent resurgence of cases of the viral disease.

The committee is expected to have audience with the Minister of Health to brief members on the reasons for the recent outbreak and steps taken so far to combat it.

The Committees are also to interact with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and designated Lassa fever testing laboratories and report back to the House within six (6) weeks for further legislative action.

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