From Lateef Taiwo
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has issued an alert to the public over a steady increase in Lassa fever cases.
Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jide Idris disclosed this during a press briefing that the agency have continued to see a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases.
According to him, “This rise is due, in part, to improved surveillance, better community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change, and other harmful human activities.
He informed, In 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 LGAs. In 2023, 28 states and 114 LGAs reported confirmed cases, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths. As of October 13, 2024, 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases, and 174 deaths have been reported across 28 states and 129 LGAs.
The DG explained that the disease is also associated with significant loss of livelihood in the communities it ravages. Heads of households are unable to work when exposed to Lassa fever and when other household members are infected, the cost of care and treatment of the disease which is often significant strains existing household income pushing households toward poverty in a swift turn of events.
Idris hinted that Lassa fever outbreaks are highly virulent and the loss of human lives resulting from disease are not just statistics but represent the death of beloved family members, spouses, parents. Healthcare workers are also not excluded as there is a high chance of infection if proper infection prevention and control measures are not observed and experienced healthcare workers may die further straining the country’s already insufficient human resources for health.
“While we continue to intensify efforts using an all-of-society approach, the public is hereby advised to note that the virus spreads through: direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats, contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats, consuming food or water contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats”.
“Person-to-person transmission can also occur through direct contact with blood, urine, faeces, vomitus, and other body fluids of an infected person”.
He informed, “Lassa fever initially presents like other common illnesses accompanied by a fever, such as malaria. Other symptoms include headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, sore throat, and, in severe cases, bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings. The time between infection and the appearance of symptoms of the disease is 3 to 21 days. Early diagnosis and treatment of the diseases greatly increase the chances of patient survival”.
“People most at risk for Lassa fever are: People of all age groups who come in contact with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats, People living in rat-infested environments, People who consume potentially contaminated foodstuff, especially those left open overnight or dried outside in the open, People who handle or process rodents for consumption and People who do not perform hand hygiene at appropriate times.
He urged Healthcare workers including: doctors, nurses, and other health workers who provide direct patient care in the absence of standard precautions, Hospital staff who clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces, materials, and supplies without adequate protective gear, laboratory staff who handle blood samples of suspected Lassa fever patients without appropriate precautions and persons who prepare and/or handle bodies of deceased Lassa fever cases without appropriate precautions.
The NCDC-led National Lassa Fever TWG advice to reduce the risk of Lassa fever infection by always keep environment clean, block all holes in house to prevent the entry of rats and other rodents, cover dustbins and dispose of refuse properly, saying communities should set up dump sites far from their homes to reduce the chances of the entry of rodents into their homes.
He advised that any infected cases and symptoms associated with Lassa fever should report to the nearest health facility or call the State Ministry of Health hotline and 6232 (NCDC).
According to him, “this is essential because early identification and treatment of cases appear to be more effective and can save lives
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