Health
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, on January 26, has activated the national multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary Lassa fever Emergency Operations Center, EOC, in Abuja, following the Lassa fever outbreak in some parts of the country. This, it says, emanates due to the increase in the number of confirmed Lassa fever cases across the country and a joint risk assessment with partners and sister agencies.
The agency stated in a press release, PR, signed by Ifedayo Adetifa, director general, Nigeria Center for Disease Control on January 26, in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the disease which was first reported in the town of Lassa, Borno State in Nigeria, in 1969 has a crude estimate of 100,000 to 300,000 infections annually, with approximately 5,000 deaths.
Ifedayo Adetifa disclosed that since 2016, NCDC has been working hard to improve diagnostic capacity for the disease. Thus, as at 23rd January 2022, a total of 115 confirmed cases with 26 deaths (a case fatality ratio of 22.6%) have been reported from 30 Local Government Areas across 11 States.
In the PR, Adetifa called on Nigerians to take more proactive measures in keeping a healthy and clean environment, proper disposal of waste, proper covering of edible items, elimination of rodents in the home and regular checkup, warning that the disease is dangerous and deadly.
“Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodents infected with 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”, she explained.
She also disclosed that there are currently seven laboratories capable of conducting confirmatory tests for Lassa fever in Nigeria and are coordinated by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, NRL, which obviously has improved active case detection for the disease.
While exposing the efforts of NCDC in the country, the DG of the center stated that studies are ongoing to develop vaccines for the disease and other outbreaks that could occur in the future.
“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”, Adetifa said.
The NCDC boss also assured that the center is in full support to strengthen the response efforts of states through continued deployment of Rapid Response Teams, RRT, through states’ Public Health Emergency Operation Centers, PHEOCs, as required to states.
“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”, she said.
The center gave sites for regular updates on the Lassa fever situation in the country, our weekly situation reports – https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps
KN
Tags: Ifedayo Adetifa Kennedy Nnamani Nigeria Center for Disease Control
