One hundred and twelve persons were killed by Lassa fever with 45 health workers infected by the disease between January and March, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.
The NCDC, on its verified website on Friday, also reported that 3,079 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported across the country, with 630 confirmed positive.
The NCDC said neighbouring countries remain at risk because the animal vector for Lassa virus, the “multimammate rat” is found throughout the region.
It added that the disease had been reported in 87 local governments areas across 23 states of the federation.
The centre said 70 per cent of the confirmed cases were from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states.
It noted that the predominant age group affected by the disease ranged between 21 and 30 years.
The NCDC stated that humans become infected due to direct contact with the urine and faeces of the rat carrying the virus.
“People also contract the disease by touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or exposure to open cuts or sores.Secondary transmission from person to person can also occur following exposure to the virus in the blood, tissue, urine, faeces or other bodily secretions of an infected patient.”