The Federal Government said Tuesday that Lassa fever has claimed 63 lives out of 212 suspected cases reported from 62 local government areas in affected states.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, confirmed this at the emergency National Council of Health meeting in Abuja on the outbreak of the disease.
Mr. Adewole listed the 17 affected states as Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Lagos, Delta, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Zamfara and Kogi as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said there is high level of denial and conspiracy across some states, adding that health managers should not deceive executives by their pretence and silence.
The minister described the denial of Ebonyi to report five suspected cases and one death as conspiracy of denial.
He said every state should consider itself at risk and put measures to contain and prevent the disease.
Mr. Adewole said the federal government would maintain high level of alert all year round to celebrate Lassa fever obituary next year.