Wednesday, January 26,
2022 / 05:20 PM / by NCDC / Header Image Credit: Premium Times
Lassa fever is an acute
viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or
household items contaminated by rodents infected with the Lassa fever virus
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has
activated the national multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary Lassa fever
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in response to the Lassa fever outbreak in
some parts of the country. This became necessary given the increase in the
number of confirmed Lassa fever cases across the country and a joint risk
assessment with partners and sister agencies.
As of 23rd January 2022, a total of 115 confirmed
cases with 26 deaths (a case fatality ratio of 22.6%) have been reported. These
cases were reported from thirty (30) Local Government Areas (LGAs) across
eleven (11) States. Furthermore, the reports in weeks 1 and 2 show the highest
number of confirmed cases recorded in the last four years for the same period.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness
transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated
by rodents infected with the Lassa fever virus. Person-to-person transmission
can also occur, particularly in a hospital environment with inadequate
infection control measures. Like several other countries in West Africa, the
disease is endemic in Nigeria and is often recorded during the dry season,
often between November and May.
Since 2016, NCDC has worked hard to improve diagnostic
capacity for the disease. Currently, seven laboratories can conduct confirmatory
tests for Lassa fever in Nigeria and are coordinated by the NCDC National
Reference Laboratory (NRL). This has improved active case detection for the
disease. Similarly, care for affected individuals has improved with NCDC
providing support to states including the provision of emergency medical and
laboratory supplies as well as oral and intravenous Ribavirin for preventive
and curative treatment to treatment centres across the country. In addition,
Nigeria through NCDC is participating in the largest-ever Lassa fever study
that aims to provide an accurate assessment of the incidence of the disease in
West Africa. This will also accelerate the development of vaccines and
therapeutics for Lassa fever. These are supported by the Coalition for Epidemic
Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Wellcome Trust.
To support and strengthen the response efforts of
states, NCDC has continued to deploy Rapid Response Teams (RRT) as required to
states. The RRTs through the State Public Health Emergency Operation Centres
(PHEOCs) work with states across all response pillars to strengthen
preparedness and response activities. This includes outbreak investigation,
contact tracing, response coordination, case management, psycho-social care for
infected people, risk communication, and infection prevention and control
activities.
Furthermore, using a One Health approach, the NCDC is
working with relevant ministries, departments, health agencies, and partners to
strengthen the capacity of states to effectively manage this outbreak alongside
COVID-19 and other diseases of public health relevance. Risk communications
activities are ongoing through radio, posters, flyers, and social media. The
Federal Ministry of Environment is also implementing a Lassa fever
Environmental response campaign in high burden states.
Lassa fever presents initially like any other febrile
illness such as malaria. Its symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat,
general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest
pain, and in severe cases, unexplainable 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 treatment and diagnosis increase
the chances of survival.
To reduce the risk of the spread of Lassa fever, the
NCDC offers the following advice:
Ensure proper environmental sanitation i.e. keep
your environment clean at all times, block all holes in your house to prevent
rats from entry.
Cover your dustbins and dispose of refuse properly.
Communities should set up dumpsites very far from their homes to reduce the
chances of having rodents within homes.
Store foodstuff like rice, garri, beans, corn/maize,
etc in containers that are well covered with tight-fitting lids.
Avoid drying foodstuffs outside on the floor, roadside
where they will be exposed to contamination
Avoid bush burning which can lead to the displacement
of rats from bushes to human dwellings.
Eliminate rats in homes and communities by setting rat
traps and other means.
Practice good personal hygiene by frequent washing
hands with soap under running water /or use of hand sanitisers when
appropriate.
Visit the nearest health facility if you notice any of
the signs and symptoms of Lassa fever as mentioned earlier, and avoid
self-medication.
Health care workers are also advised to practice
standard precautions and to maintain a high index of suspicion at all times.
Ensure appropriate use of personal protective equipment any time there is a
risk of body fluid exposure. This is critical for breaking the chain of
transmission of the disease. Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) must be performed for
all suspected cases of malaria. When the RDT is negative, other causes of
febrile illness including Lassa fever should be considered. Accurate diagnosis
and prompt treatment increase the chances of survival.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control remains
committed to supporting States' Public Health Teams to achieve the goal of
reducing the Lassa fever case fatality rate to a single digit; preventing and
responding to public health threats.
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