Lassa fever: Edo, Ondo and Bauchi states account for 84% of cases, according to the NCDC.

The Nigerian Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NCCDC) said that 84% of cases of Lassa fever occurred in the states of Edo, Ondo and Bouchi.

NCDC CEO Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said in an interview with the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
Adetifa said there were 369 suspected Lassa fever cases in the country between January 2 and 15.
He said out of which 105 were confirmed positive from 30 LGAs in 10 states.
The NCDC said that the 10 states were Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Oyo, Plateau and Nasarawa States

He said that there had been seven deaths with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 6.7 per cent in the country.

He said that since 2017, the NCDC through the Lassa Fever Technical Working Group (TWG) had been been offering support to all states and responding to Lassa fever especially the high-burden states of Edo, Ebonyi and Ondo.
”Support offered includes capacity building and training healthcare workers on infection prevention and control, clinician training on Lassa fever case management (including the provision of Ribavirin, consumables such as intravenous fluids, antibiotics, personal protective equipment (PPE), body bags, etc.),

“The development and dissemination of protocols and guidelines, the set up and maintenance of a network of laboratories for Lassa fever diagnosis (including training, maintaining quality management systems, provision of all consumables required for testing).
”As well as risk communication and community engagement activities to raise awareness,” he said.
According to Adetifa, at the end of November 2022 and ahead of the projected rise of Lassa fever cases, the NCDC prepositioned supplies for case management, infection prevention and control and laboratory diagnosis, among others in all historical Lassa fever hotspots including Edo.
He said that in December 2022, the agency in collaboration with partners, Federal and state-level stakeholders successfully conducted the finalisation and validation of a five-year strategic plan to reduce the Lassa fever fatality ratio in Nigeria to less than 10 per cent.
The NCDC boss said that in the last six years of the Lassa fever response in the country, there had been an establishment of Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOC) to ensure effective multi-sectoral coordination for early containment of outbreaks.
“Timely deployment of multi-sectoral National Rapid Response Teams (NRRT) on request. Yearly distribution of response commodities medicines (Ribavirin) and personal protective equipment (PPE), social behaviour change communication (SBCC) materials, thermometers, tents, to Epidemiology Departments of State Ministries of Health and treatment centres.

“Routine support of testing state laboratories with testing kits, reagents and consumables. Support for engagement of contact tracers and supervisors for enhanced surveillance and active case search.
“Support designated treatment centres with equipment such as ambulances, dialysis machines, medicines, PPE, generating sets, etc. Deployment of surge staff (healthcare workers) to support overwhelmed treatment centres,” he said.
According to him, there has been training and retraining of healthcare workers on Lassa fever response, case management and IPC as well as development and dissemination of Lassa fever guidelines on case management, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), preparedness and response. “Working with the World Health Organization and the federal Ministry of the Environment to implement targeted rodent control measures in the heavy-duty LGA. Distribute warning and advisory letters to Health Commissioners to ensure appropriate response and preparedness.
“Deployment of the Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS). Placement of NCDC liaison officers in high-stakes states.
“High-level intelligence visits to high-stakes governors and health commissioners. We are conducting epidemiological studies of Lassa fever in Nigeria and other studies in high-stakes states,” he said.
Adetifa therefore advised Nigerians to reduce the risk of contracting Lassa fever and to always keep the environment clean.
“Close all openings in the house to keep mice out. Close trash cans and dispose of trash properly.
“Communities should create landfills very far from homes to reduce the possibility of rodents in homes. Store foods such as rice, harrier (cassava flakes), beans, maize/maize, etc. in well-sealed containers with tight-fitting lids,” he said.
He said Nigerians should avoid drying food on streets or roadsides where there is a risk of infection, and avoid burning brush that could carry rats from bushes to people’s homes.
“Kill mice in homes and communities by setting up mouse traps and other available means. He practices good personal hygiene and hand hygiene, frequently washing his hands with soap and running water or using hand sanitizer when needed,” he explained. He also urged Nigerians to visit the nearest health care facility if signs and symptoms related to Lassa fever appear, as mentioned earlier.
“Avoid self-medication,” he said.
He urged health workers to always follow standard precautions.

“Wear gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment when handling patients or caring for sick patients/relatives.
“Health care workers must maintain a high level of suspicion for Lassa fever. “Be vigilant when examining patients with fever and consider a diagnosis of Lassa fever.
“Healthcare workers are urged to report all suspected cases of Lassa fever to local government surveillance and disease notification officers so that medical care can be sought immediately,” he said.

He said this was essential because early identification and treatment of cases appear to be more effective and save lives.
According to him, any febrile illness that has not responded to 48 hours of use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should raise an index of suspicion for Lassa fever.
He said that the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Health through the NCDC continue to offer both technical and material support to all states when responding to infectious diseases of public health importance including Lassa fever.
Adetifa said that the agency is the country’s national public health institute, with the mandate to lead the prevention, preparedness, and response to public health emergencies caused by communicable diseases.
“The mission of the NCDC is to protect the health of Nigerians and one of the strategies in attaining national health security is the capacity building of states to have a skilled workforce to promptly respond to outbreaks of public health importance,” he said. NAN reports that Lassa virus is transmitted to humans by multi-mammal infected mice, and humans become infected through direct contact with the urine and feces of mice carrying the virus.
People also get sick from touching dirty things, eating contaminated food, or from open cuts or sores.
Secondary human-to-human transmission can also occur through contact with the virus in the blood, tissues, urine, feces, or other bodily secretions of an infected person.
Lassa fever can also be transmitted between patients and staff in poorly equipped hospitals where sterile and protective clothing are not standard. (Nasu)