ABUJA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian authorities confirmed that 69 people had been killed so far in the latest outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.
In a statement reaching Xinhua on Thursday, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said the figure represents about 21.3 percent of the fatality rate since the onset of the outbreak last month.
At least 19 out of Nigeria's 36 states have been affected by the acute viral hemorrhagic fever since Jan. 13, the statement said. The outbreak has also been recorded in the capital Abuja.
The NCDC also confirmed 37 new cases of the Lassa fever, known to be endemic in several West African countries. The new cases were recorded between Feb. 4 and Feb. 10.
On Jan. 22, Nigerian authorities declared a fresh outbreak of the disease, saying an Emergency Operations Center was activated to coordinate the response.
Chief executive officer of the NCDC Chikwe Ihekweazu told reporters on Wednesday that another three health workers were affected in three states in the recent outbreak.
So far, 12 healthcare workers have been affected by the outbreak, Ihekweazu noted, saying one of them was killed by the disease.
The official said 2,658 suspected contacts are being followed up nationwide to curtail the spread of the disease.
Recent epidemiological data show that Lassa fever usually occurs in Nigeria during the dry season, between January and April.
Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus from exposure to urine or feces of infected mastomys rats. Other than common preventive measures such as washing hands regularly, the World Health Organization has also recommended keeping cats.
In 2018, the NCDC reported at least 143 Lassa fever deaths across the country. The fever was reported in 22 states and 90 local government areas last year.
