Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed it recorded eight additional Lassa fever infections and one death between Sept. 5 and 11, 2022.

The NCDC via its official website said the new cases bring the total number of confirmed cases and deaths in the country to 917 and 171, respectively.

It disclosed that 25 states had recorded at least one confirmed case across 102 local government areas with a total of 6,660 suspected cases have been reported in the country.

The public health agency revealed the affected states as Ondo accounted for 32 per cent, Edo 26 per cent and Bauchi 13 per cent and said the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) has continued to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

The NCDC said that to reduce the risk of Lassa fever, Nigerians should ensure proper environmental sanitation, “that is, keep your environment clean at all times, block all holes in your house to prevent rats from entry”.

It also advised Nigerians on measures to be taken to safe guard them and their families like the covering of dustbins and dispose of refuse properly.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus as people usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or feces of infected rats – present in several West African countries where the disease is endemic.

The virus can also be spread through infected bodily fluids.

People also contract the disease by touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or exposure to open cuts or sores.

Secondary transmission from person to person can also occur as a result of exposure to the virus in the blood, tissue, urine, faeces or other bodily secretions of an infected patient.