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Tag: Lassa Fever

  • Lassa Fever hits Osun state, kills 2

    This development was confirmed by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu and the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Health, Dr. Olasiji Olamiju.

    The cabinet members who spoke to newsmen in Osogbo, said adequate measures have been put in place to contain the spread of the deadly disease.

    Isamotu stated that all hands were on deck to check the spread of the disease as he revealed that the affected persons are currently getting medical treatment at Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife and Ilesa.

    Lassa mammarenavirus is an arenavirus that causes Lassa hemorrhagic fever, a type of viral hemorrhagic fever, in humans and other primates. Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms. When symptoms occur they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pains.

  • Lassa fever outbreak evidence of poor health funding in Nigeria – NMA

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Monday called on the Federal Government to embark on intensive public enlightenment campaigns as more states confirmed cases of Lassa fever

    It said the government needed to bolster the country’s preparedness in handling infectious diseases, especially viral hemorrhagic fever , at all levels of healthcare delivery through an increase in the budgetary allocations to the health sector and full implementation of the National Health Act (2014)

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) listed Lagos, Abuja, Owo, Irua and Abakaliki as cities hosting five functional molecular laboratories for diagnosing and detecting Lassa Fever

    The NMA explained in a statement by its President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, that the frequency of Lassa fever outbreaks gives credence to the deplorable state of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

    The statement said: “It is important to strengthen institutional infection prevention and control measures and preparedness with periodic capacity building, and build more diagnostic and treatment centers across the country in order to effectively combat this dreaded virus.

    “The NMA, therefore, calls on the government and all stakeholders to join hands together to ensure the speedy and full implementation of the National Health Act 2014, increase the budgetary allocation to the health sector to 15 percent of the annual budget in line with the minimum benchmark recommended by the Abuja Declaration of 2001. All must also be committed to the revamping of the primary healthcare system.

    “We appeal to health authorities at all levels to prioritize the capacity building of healthcare professionals on standard infection prevention and control measures and ensure the provision of basic disinfectants and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment in healthcare facilities. We call on corporate organizations, NGOs and religious organizations to work with Government and the Nigerian Medical Association in intensifying ongoing public enlightenment campaign and ensure that all Nigerians are educated especially those at the rural communities on preventive strategies and prompt care seeking.”

    The NMA advised people, especially those living in rural areas to wash their hands with soaps frequently and use hand sanitisers when appropriate as means of staying free from the disease.

    It urged health workers to adopt precautionary measures when caring for suspected Lassa fever patients “ with the use of gloves, and avoiding contact with the body fluid (urine, vomitus, faeces and blood) of the sick.

    The association added: “All medical and dental practitioners and healthcare professionals in general must have high index of suspicion.

    “In addition to basic infection prevention and control measures, extra precaution should be taken whenever a patient presents with the symptoms especially the ‘wet symptoms’; vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding. The need to insist on appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) cannot be overemphasized.

    “Healthcare practitioners should be cautious of the display of heroism especially in the absence of the basics required for care especially appropriate Personal Protective Equipment or in case of lack of the needed skill. This is pivotal to prevent transmission or break the chain of transmission in healthcare facility setting and prevent avoidable deaths.”

    Director General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, named the hospitals as the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo Edo State; Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State; Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Idi Araba, Lagos.

    Ihekweazu said: “Presently, samples from suspected Lassa fever patients from South-South states and some states in the South-West are tested at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital; while samples from South-East states are tested at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

    “Samples from states in the North are tested at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory Abuja and samples from South-West states are tested at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, while Federal Medical Centre, Owo in Ondo State screens samples from Ondo State only.

    The Minister of Environment, Mohammad Abubakar, advised Nigerians to stop eating rats.

    Abubakar, said: “Nigeria is currently experiencing Lassa fever outbreak in several parts of the country with reported cases of fatalities.

    “Latest report from the NCDC released on January . 25 has it that 195 confirmed cases and 29 deaths have been recorded in Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Delta, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi, Ogun, Abia, Kano and Enugu states. .

    “Out of the confirmed cases, 89 per cent are from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi states. “

  • How Nigeria can better tackle Lassa Fever, Coronavirus – Atiku

    How Nigeria can better tackle Lassa Fever, Coronavirus – Atiku

    Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has proffer solution how Nigeria can win the battle against raging Lassa Fever in the country and put machinery in place to fight Coronavirus in case of emergency.

    Lassa Fever is currently raging in many states in Nigeria, with health officials battling to curtail the deadly disease.

    Reacting to the development, Atiku said the Nigerian government needed to fight Lassa Fever with the same zeal it fought the deadly Ebola in 2014.

    He said there must be swift response from health and emergency officials to battle Lassa Fever and get ready for the threat posed by Coronavirus.

    “In 2014, Nigeria confronted and quashed the dreaded Ebola disease. The swift battle was won by careful screening and rapid isolation.

    “Let us apply the same level of “world-class epidemiological detective work” in the case of Lassa Fever and the looming Coronavirus.

    “Awareness and education are also the most potent tools for combating Lassa Fever and Coronavirus. Please share these materials with all family and friends,” he said.

  • How Nigeria can win battle against Lassa Fever, Coronavirus – Atiku

    How Nigeria can win battle against Lassa Fever, Coronavirus – Atiku

    Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has proffer solution how Nigeria can win the battle against raging Lassa Fever in the country and put machinery in place to fight Coronavirus in case of emergency.

    Lassa Fever is currently raging in many states in Nigeria, with health officials battling to curtail the deadly disease.

    Reacting to the development, Atiku said the Nigerian government needed to fight Lassa Fever with the same zeal it fought the deadly Ebola in 2014.

    He said there must be swift response from health and emergency officials to battle Lassa Fever and get ready for the threat posed by Coronavirus.

    “In 2014, Nigeria confronted and quashed the dreaded Ebola disease. The swift battle was won by careful screening and rapid isolation.

    “Let us apply the same level of “world-class epidemiological detective work” in the case of Lassa Fever and the looming Coronavirus.

    “Awareness and education are also the most potent tools for combating Lassa Fever and Coronavirus. Please share these materials with all family and friends,” he said.

  • Nasarawa confirms outbreak of Lassa fever

    The Nasarawa State Government has confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

    Mr Ahmed Yahaya, the state Commissioner for Health, said this while speaking with journalists on Monday in Lafia.

    Yahaya said that a patient, resident at Mararaba Gurku in Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state was diagnosed with the disease adding that the case was confirmed by doctors at Garki General Hospital, Abuja.

    According to him, a team of health personnel has been drafted to the area to monitor and possibly quarantine those who had contact with the patient to curtail spread.

    Yahaya said that the state government has put in place mechanism in secondary and tertiary health facilities to handle any case of outbreak and curtail spread of the disease in the state.

    “We are aware of the outbreak and have taken measures by deploying doctors and tools to ensure we curtail further spread of the diseases,” he said.

    The commissioner advised residents to ensure good environmental hygiene and keep rodents away from their food sources.

    He also advised them to lookout for symptoms and visit health facilities for prompt treatment.
    Yahaya said all health facilities have been put on red alert to check for the outbreak.

    He pointed out that the ministry had sustained sensitisation campaigns through the media on how to prevent the disease.

    Dr Hassan Ikrama, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dalhatu Arab Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, said that the hospital was prepared to curtail spread of the disease.

    Ikrama said the management has trained health personnel on how to identify and handle patients with suspected cases of the disease.

    According to Ikrama, the state government has provided protective kits for health personnel as well as drugs for the treatment of the disease.

    He also said that an isolation centre has been provided at the hospital for patients with suspected cases of the disease.

  • Pregnant woman diagnosed with Lassa fever in Ogun

    Pregnant woman diagnosed with Lassa fever in Ogun

    The Ogun Government has confirmed a case of Lassa Fever in the state, with a firm assurance that all was being done to contain it.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abeokuta.

    She said the suspected Lassa Fever case was confirmed by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Virology Laboratory on January 24.

    According to Coker, the patient is a pregnant 29 year- old who took ill and was referred to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Abeokuta.

    She, however disclosed that, contrary to some reports circulating in the media, “the patient is not dead as she was transferred to the Federal Specialist Hospital in Irua, Edo, whose facilities provided the patient with the full benefit of multidisciplinary care required for her due to her pregnancy.”

    She added that the Rapid Response Team has commenced line listing of all who had come into contact with the patient for surveillance purposes, including her relatives and hospital staff that managed the case.

    Coker assured members of the public that the state acted proactively by putting all counter-measures in place to contain the situation.

    She urged residents and the public to maintain proper hygiene and avoid contact with rodents, adding that they should cover their food properly and ensure that their food was warmed before eating it.

    “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 a definitive diagnosis is concluded.

    “The state epidemiologist should immediately be notified on telephone numbers 0818 897 8393 and 0818 897 8392 in case of any suspected case,” the commissioner added.

  • 29 killed as Lassa Fever spreads to 11 states [See states majorly affected]

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said 29 deaths have been reported in 11 states out of the 195 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in those states.

    A statement issued by the agency on Saturday and signed by its Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said NCDC had activated a National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate response activities.

    It said: “As at the 24th of January 2020, 195 confirmed cases and 29 deaths have been reported in 11 states. Of the confirmed cases, 89% are from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi States. The increase in the number of cases at this time of the year is not unusual due to ecological factors”.

    The National EOC includes representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, World Health Organization, UNICEF, US Centers for Disease Control, and other partners.

    According to NCDC, it will continue to support states in strengthening their preparedness and response capacity.

    It said that over the last three weeks, NCDC had deployed Rapid Response Teams to support five of the affected states.

    The statement said that the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire had led a high-level delegation to Kano State on Saturday following the deaths of two health workers infected with Lassa fever.

    In addition, NCDC said it had 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.

    The NCDC statement claimed that there had been a decline in the fatality rate of reported Lassa fever cases from 23.4% in 2019 to 14.8% this year.

    “NCDC continues to support treatment centres across states in the country to effectively manage Lassa fever cases.

    “In addition, five laboratories in Nigeria have the capacity to diagnose Lassa fever 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,” it said.

    It further said that Nigeria was contributing to research and other activities for the development of a Lassa fever vaccine.

    The agency said 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- were set to commence Lassa fever epidemiological studies that will provide data to guide research and response activities.

    Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and cases are recorded all year round. The Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents which can be found in in environment.

    Lassa fever is largely transmitted through contact with items or surfaces contaminated with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats. It can also be transmitted from person-to-person through contact with blood, urine, faeces and other body fluids of an infected person. To minimise the risk of infection, members of the public were advised to ensure their environment was always kept clean to avoid contact with rodents.

    Early symptoms includes fever, headache, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, sore throat etc. It is in very severe cases that the patient bleeds from body openings.

    If a patient does not respond to treatment for malaria or other febrile illnesses after 48 hours, it is important to test immediately for Lassa fever, the agency said.

  • Kaduna confirms Lassa outbreak

    The Ministry of Health has confirmed a case of Lassa fever in a young male from Chikun LGA, in Kaduna state.

    According to the Ministry, the young man whose name was withheld is now being treated at the Infectious Diseases Control Centre.

    A statement signed by Dr. Amina Baloni, the Commissioner of Health for Kaduna state, urged the public to be calm as all KDSG health facilities are on the alert to look out for cases.

    He also urged the public to maintain the highest standard of individual hygiene and to report any suspected cases promptly.

    Baloni also noted that the Ministry of Health has supplied all infectious disease control centers in Kaduna with the necessary commodities and health officials are ready to manage any cases that may arise.

    He stated that the epidemiology unit is monitoring the situation closely, and all health facilities are on alert

    He also stated that suspected cases should be reported to the State Epidemiology unit on 08036045755 or 08027396344 or by contacting the nearest Local Government Health Authority official.

  • Death toll from Lassa fever outbreak rises to 24

    No fewer than 10 more people died in the third week of the outbreak of Lassa Fever, bringing the death toll to 24.

    According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 14 persons initially died from the outbreak as at the second week.
    indicates that additional 10 people lost their lives in the third week of the disease outbreak.

    In a report of the epidemiological report 13 – 19 January, the centre said: “In week 3, the number of new confirmed cases has increased from 64 cases in week 1, 2020 to 81. These were reported from six states – Ondo, Edo, Delta, Taraba, Plateau, and Bauchi.

    “89 percent of all confirmed cases are from Edo (38 percent), Ondo (38 percent) and Ebonyi (11 percent) states. The predominant age-group affected is between 11 and 40 years (Range: >11 to 60 years, Median Age: 33 years). The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:1”.

    Ondo has the highest number of new confirmed cases at 43, followed by Edo at 33.

    Delta and Bauchi states had new confirmed cases of 2 each while Taraba and Plateau stood at one each.

    The national average for case fatality stands at 10.4 percent and while target case fatality rate should be below 10 percent.

    However, Ondo state seems to have overshot the national average and target case fatality rate at about 10.7 percent.

    “The overall case fatality rate (CFR) for 2020 is 14.7 percent which is lower than the CFR for the same period during 2019, which was 23.4 percent. In total for 2020, nine states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 32 local government areas.

    “The number of suspected cases has increased but is lower than the numbers reported in 2019. No Health Care Worker infection was identified in the reporting week 03,” the report said.

  • Lassa fever: Three dead, 292 on Kano watch list

    Kano state Government has confirmed the outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state which has so far claimed the lives of three (3) persons comprising of two doctors and the patient believed to be the first victim.

    This was made known by the Honorable Commissioner, Kano State Ministry of Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim tsanyawa during a press conference on Wednesday.

    According to him, the ministry currently has a total of 292 persons who had contact with the said victims on its watch list which would help to quickly quarantine anyone who shows any symptoms of the disease to avoid further spread.

    He said the first case was a 28-year-old pregnant woman from Gwale LGA who fell sick two weeks after the death of her mother and was referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from a private hospital but also passed away on the 1st of January, 2020.

    That following the report of the outbreak, and confirmation of samples, the state government swung into action so as to expeditiously curtail the spread of the viral disease to this end, the state’s isolation center at Year Gaya has been activated.

    Other measures taken include; activation of rapid response team, prepositioning of drugs and other consumables, contact tracing as well as daily coordination meeting at the state’s emergency operation center amongst others

    Tsanyawa urged the general public to disregard any mere allegation and rumours and ensure proper hand hygiene, strengthen environmental sanitation, avoid contact with wild animals and rodents.

    Other safety measures according to him are; people should avoid poorly cooked meat, avoid contact with suspected or confirmed cases or items soiled by them and urge the public to report any suspected case to the nearest health facility nearest to them.

    Ibrahim, further reiterated the state government’s readiness to partner with all persons, group and organizations in it’d determination towards providing quality healthcare service for the good people of the state.

    He applauded the state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje for his relentless and tireless efforts towards improving the health and well-being of the people of the state stressing that, all is under control and no need for panicking.