The Nigeria Center for Disease Control has sent out an alert to authorities on the alarming trend of Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

The NCDC, in its latest advisory, revealed that the number of Lassa fever cases had risen to 4,632 while a total of 102 infected people died from the disease in 2021.

Ondo state in Southwestern Nigeria has so far recorded the highest number of deaths, at least 47, while Edo state reported 15 fatalities and Bauch State has recorded 12 deaths. 

The health agency also announced the possibility of the Lassa fever presenting malaria-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness among others.

Since the outbreak of the disease in 2016, the agency noted that there had been an increase in the number of recurring cases.