Nigeria is confronting a resurgence of Lassa Fever, with recent reports indicating 14 new cases and one death across the states of Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s Director-General, Jide Idris, provided insights into the re-emergence of the disease at a press conference in Abuja. He mentioned that these cases appeared within the week of May 6 to May 12, predominantly affecting individuals in the 31 to 40 age bracket.
The geographic spread of Lassa Fever encompasses 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states over 125 local government areas, signaling a priority for intensified awareness and containment efforts.
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Idris explained, “About two-thirds of the confirmed cases originated from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, with Ondo contributing 25%, Edo 22%, and Bauchi 17% to the tally.”
In response to this outbreak, the NCDC has prompted the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System, orchestrating a unified response at all operational levels to curtail the disease’s spread.
Encountering Challenges in Lassa Fever Containment:
The fight against Lassa Fever faces obstacles such as delays in case reporting and suboptimal health-seeking among the population, presenting a barrier to effective disease management. Idris urged the public to remain vigilant and underscored the indiscriminate nature of Lassa Fever, which places everyone at potential risk.
Public Health Advisory and Precautionary Measures:
As Lassa Fever is transmitted through interactions with contaminated rat excreta or infected individuals, Idris recommended setting traps to deter rat infestations in homes as a preventive strategy.
He further cautioned against handling rodents without protection and advised against consuming food products potentially compromised by rat contact, as these practices are pivotal in averting exposure to the virus.
The NCDC continues to appeal to the public to eschew contact with suspected rodent-contaminated items, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and caution in minimizing the risk of Lassa Fever transmission.
