ABUJA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria on Thursday confirmed that at least 143 people have been killed this year by Lassa fever, a disease endemic in several west African countries.
Citing data collated from January-November, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said 3,016 suspected cases were recorded over the period.
Out of the number, 559 cases of Lassa fever were confirmed positive, 17 observed as probable cases and 2,440 cases were confirmed to be negative.
The acute viral hemorrhagic fever has been reported in 22 states and 90 local government areas since the first case was detected on Jan. 1.
A spokesman for the NCDC Chimezie Anueyiagu told reporters in Abuja that the rate of fatality cases so far is confirmed as 22.6 percent.
Anueyiagu said there were ongoing plans to review the present guidelines as well as develop a five-year strategic plan to tackle Lassa fever in Nigeria.
He said the NCDC was collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) on research to ascertain if there was another animal spreading the virus.
West African countries Ghana, Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone also reported cases of Lassa fever this year.
