Suspected Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria 'Kills 40'

Lassa fever is an acute haemorrhagic illness which is endemic in rodents in west Africa (AFP Photo/Christopher Black)

news.yahoo.com - AFP - January 8, 2016

Abuja (AFP) - Forty people have died in Nigeria in a suspected outbreak of Lassa fever in 10 states across the country, Health Minister Isaac Adewole said Friday.

"The total number (of suspected cases) reported is 86 and 40 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2 percent," Adewole told a news conference in the capital, Abuja.

The minister said that so far, laboratory tests have confirmed that 22 of the 86 suspected cases were Lassa fever and results were expected on the remainder.

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