As the federal government commenced emergency operations to arrest the scourge of Lassa fever nationwide, the disease has continued to claim more casualties.
As at Sunday, 29 people were reportedly killed in 11 states, while 195 deaths were confirmed.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) weekend activated a National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate the response activities.
At the commencement of the year, the nation had experienced a sharp rise in the number of Lassa fever cases and deaths.
For instance, between January 1 and 24, a total of 29 deaths were reported from the 195 confirmed cases.
States where cases of deaths had been confirmed include; Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Ogun, Kano and Delta among others.
Response
In a statement by NCDC Director-General Chikwe Ihekweazu, the agency said the increase in the number of cases at this time of the year was not unusual, due to ecological factors
It listed the National EOC to include representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, US Centres for Disease Control, and other partners.
The agency said it is also supporting states in strengthening their preparedness and response capacity.
Over the last three weeks, the agency said it had deployed rapid response teams to support five of the affected states, adding that it has rapidly increased risk communications and community engagement activities to ensure that Nigerians are aware of the risks of Lassa fever and measures to protect themselves.
“Lassa Fever occurs all year round. However, cases increase sporadically during the dry season (November through May).
Weekly epidemiological report from the health agency shows that there is a decline in the fatality rate of reported Lassa fever cases from 23.4 per cent in 2019 to 14.8 per cent this year in same reporting week,” it said.
On treatment, the agency said it would continue to support treatment centres across states to effectively manage suspected and confirmed cases.
“Nigeria can effectively and timely diagnose samples of suspected cases as the country now has five laboratories with the capacity to diagnose the disease in Nigeria.
“These laboratories are critical to reducing turnaround time between identifying a suspected case and confirmation. This ensures prompt case management and other response activities, thereby reducing the number of deaths.
“NCDC and the three main treatment centres in the country- Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Owo and Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakalilki- are set to commence Lassa fever epidemiological studies that will provide data to guide research and response activities.
“NCDC remains committed to protecting the health of Nigerians. It is important for members of the public to practice good hygiene and take measures to protect themselves and their families”, he added.
Kaduna
Meanwhile, the Kaduna state government has confirmed a case of Lassa fever in Chukun local government area of the state.
The state commissioner for health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni, said the 35-year-old male patient was already receiving treatment at the designated infectious disease control centre in the state capital.
She said health personnel had been stationed at the centre to manage cases that may arise.
Borno
In Borno, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno activated a standing emergency response with a call on health professionals to ensure the full containment of the disease, in order not to spread beyond the only case so far established.
The governor also directed that special attention be given to government-controlled camps and host communities associated with the forced migration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Lagos
Similarly, the Lagos state government has set up a biosecurity team to work on the urgent capacity to identify any kind of viruses such as Lassa fever and coronavirus.
Speaking to reporters, the state commissioner for health, Professor Akin Abayomi pleaded with residents to take proper care of their environment and avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of the disease.
Enugu
Also, the Enugu state government has urged residents of the state to remain calm even as it dispelled rumour that one of the nurses that treated a patient, who later died of Lassa fever, was dead.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr Ifeanyi Agujiobi said this in a statement Sunday.
“The public is advised to go about their normal duties and ensured that universal health precautions are observed,” he said.
He said the ministry had constituted a “Multi-Sectoral Rapid Response Team” charged with the responsibility of containing and mitigating against the deadly Lassa fever menace.
“The death toll in Enugu has remained just one and by God’s grace, all the people that had direct and indirect contact with the index case has been line listed and are being monitored, totalling about 178.
“With 23 of them that had direct contact with the dead patient, their samples have been collected for hematological investigations. All hospitals in the state had been told to be on the watch and to make use of all protective and preventive measures.
“Bush burning should be discouraged for now. We may get cat pets to wade-off rodents. Avoid garbage and refuse close to the house to dispel rats and other rodents and ensure that all food stuffs are properly covered.
“Canned drinks, bottled/soda water should be properly washed before drinking; while all schools are encouraged to observe basic hand washing hygiene and use sanitisers,” he said.
Agujiobi said the NCDC had equally supported the state with some commodities; while Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was doing everything possible to ensure that “this
dreaded disease is well controlled’’.
Three days ago, the ministry confirmed a case of Lassa fever, which reportedly killed a 75-year-old woman at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu.
The deceased’s sample was taken to Virology Centre at Abakaliki, Ebonyi state and it was confirmed to be Lassa fever positive.
Kogi
In another report, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja has confirmed three cases of Lassa fever and one death in the last one week..
Head of Clinical Services (HCSs) FMC Lokoja Dr Bernard Ododo said this in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja Sunday.
Ododo said: ”Five suspected cases reported at the hospital in the last one week; three already tested positive, of which one died. Two cases already transferred to Lassa Fever Management Center at Irua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.
”Two others (of which one has died) have their results awaited from NCDC Laboratory in Abuja.”
He advised residents to adopt all the necessary precautions to prevent the outbreak of epidemic prone diseases in the state.
He further urged the public to seek early medical attention in case of fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, joint pain, abdominal pain and at late stage; bleeding from body orifices.
The doctor advised the relatives or care givers to patients, to be careful and use gloves whenever they touch or evacuate effluents and wastes from the patient.
”For health care givers, universal safety precaution is key. Wash hands with sanitizers, glove and kitting on personal protection equipment kit (PPE) are necessary.
”Treatment is more effective if detected early and treatment commenced immediately. Lassa is highly infectious and contagious, everyone must beware,” Ododo advised.
Ogun
Meanwhile, a 26-year-old woman, Titilayo Akinsola Saturday died of Lassa fever outbreak in Ogun state.
It was gathered that the victim was Wednesday rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Idi-aba in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Spokesman of the FMC, Segun Orisajo, who confirmed the incident to Blueprint, said Akinsola was admitted to the hospital and after series of tests, she was diagnosed of Lassa fever.
Orisajo further told one of our reporters that Akinsola died Saturday after failed attempts by the medical team of the hospital to save her.
Orisajo said, “Yes she was rushed to the hospital four days ago and series of tests confirmed that she had Lassa fever. Our medical team did everything possible to save her life but unfortunately she died.”
Orisajo urged members of the public not to panic, assuring that the hospital in conjunction with the state government was doing their best to prevent further spread of the disease.
He said, “The hospital management is in touch with the Ministry of Health to work together to put everything in check. There is no cause for alarm.”
Also confirming the development, the state commissioner for health in the state, Tomi Coker, on the official Twitter page of the state government said:
The state’s rapid response team had commenced line listing of all who have come into contact with the patient for surveillance purposes, including her relatives and hospital staff that managed the case.
She assured members of the public that the state government acted proactively by putting all counter measures in place to contain the situation.
While advising residents to maintain proper hygiene, the commissioner said: “We have given thermometers to those who have been in contact with the patient to monitor their temperatures and also provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the designated treatment center at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
“Our health educators and officers have been deployed into action and are educating the public on ways to avoid being infected with Lassa Fever.
“Other emerging or suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fevers are to be isolated in the designated quarantine areas for barriers nursing, until definitive diagnosis is concluded.
“The State Epidemiologist and DNSO should immediately be notified on telephone numbers 09099140121 and 09099140122 in case of any suspected case.”
