NCDC
Olamilekan Abayomi
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 39 confirmed cases and 17 deaths from Lassa Fever across several states, including Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Ebonyi. This represents a slight increase from the previous week, with a case fatality rate of 18.1%, marginally lower than the same period last year.
The affected states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 28 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Ondo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Edo states account for 89% of the confirmed cases. The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8 .
Lassa Fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa, caused by the Lassa virus and transmitted primarily by the multimammate rat. Humans contract the virus through contact with infected rodent urine, feces, or blood, or person-to-person through bodily fluids, particularly in hospitals with poor infection control.
The NCDC has activated the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate response activities, including surveillance, case management, and prevention measures. The agency is also working with non-governmental organizations to conduct awareness campaigns and train healthcare workers on case management.
The symptoms of Lassa Fever include fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. In severe cases, patients may experience hemorrhaging, facial swelling, and shock. The main prevention method is keeping rodents out of homes and food storage.
The NCDC has reported that the cases were likely due to poor health-seeking behavior among patients and poor environmental sanitation in affected communities.
