The World Health Organisation, WHO, has described the recent outbreak of Lassa fever that claim 72 lives as the worst in the country.
According to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Lassa fever had claimed no fewer than 72 lives.
WHO said the number of victims had never been that high.
Said Wondimagegnehu Alemu, WHO representative to Nigeria: “Lassa fever has never reached this case count in Nigeria before.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, put the number of deaths recorded as a result of Lassa fever outbreak since the beginning of the year at 72.
READ ALSO: BOA disburses N262bn to farmers
According to the situation report on the virus, released by the centre, 18 states were affected and they included Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi and Imo.
Other states were Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe and Ekiti.
The centre reported that 317 were confirmed as having been infected while there was doubt over eight cases.
However, 72 deaths were recorded, the centre stated in the report.
It was stated too that Edo State had the largest number of victims.
No fewer than 43 per cent of the victims was recorded in Edo State.
