The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has sounded the alarm over the rising incidence of Lassa fever in Nigeria.According to the NCDC, Lassa fever has reached endemic levels, posing a substantial public health threat nationwide.Alarmingly, Nigeria has recorded 190 fatalities out of 9,492 suspected Lassa fever cases this year alone.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, revealed during a briefing in Abuja that six states account for 89% of confirmed Lassa fever cases.Dr. Idris identified Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, and Ebonyi as the six states most affected by Lassa fever, accounting for 89% of confirmed cases.
Explaining that the case fatality rate had consistently remained high with over 13 per cent, Idris said: “We have noted a rise in the number of suspected cases compared to a similar timeline in 2023. This, however, could be attributed to the increased/enhanced surveillance.
“Most cases continue to emerge from endemic areas, like Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba Ebonyi and Enugu, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in these states.
“These trends therefore demand a coordinated effort to strengthen our response and protect our vulnerable populations. Our goal is to reduce the number of cases and importantly, deaths. ‘’In addressing this situation, it is important to highlight the proactive measures taken by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, so far. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to preparedness, coordination and response at all levels.
“We conducted a dynamic risk assessment to determine the appropriate emergency activation level. The risk has been categorized as high and response level 2 advised, and efforts to be tailored specifically to the states currently experiencing increased case burden.’’He explained that the Emergency Operation Centre, EOC, was activated to ensure seamless coordination of Lassa fever control and management activities, using a one health approach.
Furthermore, Dr. Idris disclosed that ten local government areas are responsible for nearly 59% of confirmed Lassa fever cases. Dr. Idris warned of a surge in Lassa fever cases and fatalities over the past four weeks, underscoring the outbreak’s severity, and assured that the NCDC is working to contain the outbreak during the peak transmission season.
“Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria, presenting a significant public health risk nationwide,” Dr. Idris emphasized. “While Lassa fever can occur year-round, peak transmission typically occurs between October and May, coinciding with the dry season when humans are more likely to come into contact with infected rodents.”
Source : https://vanguardngr.com
