The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed an outbreak of Lassa Fever in Kaduna State.
The confirmation comes after report that three health workers and a patient died at the emergency ward of the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris disclosed at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday.
Dr Idris said the NCDC was notified yesterday by the Kaduna State Ministry of Health of the report of deaths from suspected viral hemorrhagic fever at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
He said in response, the NCDC has been collaborating with both institutions to conduct a thorough investigation of the suspected cases and intensify response activities.
“Four of the six blood samples from suspected cases sent to the Bayero University Teaching Hospital in Kano have been confirmed for Lassa fever,” he said.
“Furthermore, 25 close contacts of all these cases are now under follow-up and placed on prophylactic medicine.”
Lassa Fever cases
Dr Idris reported that Nigeria has documented 2,621 suspected Lassa fever cases, resulting in 84 deaths and a case fatality rate of 18.6 per cent.
Among these cases, 476 have been confirmed in 23 states across 84 Local Government Areas as of 18 February, 2024.
“As at 18 February, 2024 (end of week 7), 84 LGAs in 23 states of the country have reported a total of 2,621 suspected cases, 476 confirmed, and 84 deaths with a case fatality rate of 18.6 per cent,” he said.
“Our condolences go to the families and friends of those (including the health workers) who lost their lives to this disease across the country.”
Meanwhile, the NCDC boss said the activated multi-sectoral multi-disciplinary Incident Management System has taken distribution of medical supplies for case management, infection prevention and control, and laboratory diagnosis in all Lassa fever treatment centers in the country.
He said the agency has also started capacity building exercises of some healthcare workers across all the geopolitical zones on Lassa fever preparedness, readiness, and response through the pilot Lassa fever clinical management fellowship.
He urged Nigerians to always keep their environment clean, and block all holes in their houses to prevent the entry of rats and other rodents.
He also advised healthcare workers to always practice standard infection prevention and control practices.
About Lassa Fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. The natural reservoir for the virus is the Mastomys natalensis rodent (commonly known as the multimammate rat or the African rat).
Other rodents can also be carriers of the virus.
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 three to 21 days, but early diagnosis and treatment of the disease greatly increase the chances of patient survival.
Lassa fever remains a major public health challenge as poor environmental sanitation, poor awareness, and late presentation of cases fuel the epidemic in Nigeria.