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Tag: Lassa Fever

  • FG declares Lassa Fever outbreak, activates emergency response

    The federal government on Tuesday declared a Lassa Fever outbreak in the country.

    According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the declaration was as a result of a surge in the number of Lassa Fever cases reported in states since the beginning of the year.

    This is coming on the heels of the Lassa Fever International Conference held in Abuja to mark 50th year anniversary of the discovery of the disease in the country.

    Each year, Lassa Fever kills many and leaves most of its survivors with disability, often due to the side effects of the drugs they received.

    The viral disease is contracted from the feaces of the multimammate rat and often transmitted via human to human contact.

    NCDC in a press statement released on Tuesday said there has been an increase in the number of Lassa Fever cases reported from many states across the country since the beginning of the year.

    Recent epidemiological data showed that this trend usually occurs during the dry season, between January and April.

    “As at January 13, a total of 60 confirmed cases have been reported in eight states,” NCDC said.

    Meanwhile, the NCDC has activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate a response.

    The national EOC includes representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, US Centers for Disease Control, as well as other partners.

    The centre said in preparation for this year’s emergency phase, the agency has been providing support to states including the provision of emergency supplies and deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRT).

    “The RRTs will work with states in response coordination, contact tracing, case management, risk communication and strengthening infection prevention and control practices,” it stated.

    This, they said, has been going on since 2018 when Nigeria experienced the largest reported case of the outbreak since the history of the disease in the country.

    In 2018, a total of 3,498 suspected cases were reported from 23 states.

    Of these, 633 were confirmed positive, 20 probable and 2853 negative (not a case).

    Also in 2018, 171 deaths among the confirmed cases and 20 probable cases were reported making the case fatality rate in confirmed cases as high as 27 per cent.

    Though the disease is more prevalent in Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi states, 20 other states recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 LGAs.

    They are Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe, Ekiti, Kaduna, Abia, Adamawa, Enugu and Kano.

    “Since the Lassa fever outbreak in 2018, NCDC has worked with states to ensure better preparedness and improved response. In the last one year, guidelines have been revised, new data management tools have been developed and the laboratory network has been strengthened. Additionally, risk communications has been strengthened through radio, posters, flyers and social media,” it said.

    “A national research plan has been developed, to enable its full integration into the outbreak response to gain a better understanding of the disease”, NCDC said.

     

  • Nigeria’s Lassa fever outbreak contained -WHO

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that with declining numbers and only a handful of confirmed cases reported in recent weeks, the critical phase of Nigeria’s largest Lassa fever outbreak is under control.

    According to a statement issued by WHO’s Communication Officer, Ms Charity Warigon in Abuja on Friday, continued vigilance is, however, needed as the country is still Lassa fever endemic.

    She said that this year, 423 confirmed cases, including 106 deaths, had been reported but that national case numbers had consistently declined in the past six weeks.

    The spokeswoman said that the numbers had dropped below levels considered to be of national emergency when compared with data from previous outbreaks.

    Warigon said that in the week ending May 6, only three new confirmed cases of Lassa fever were reported, stating that people could still be infected throughout the year hence the need for continued vigilance.

    The UN agency congratulated Nigeria for reaching a milestone in the fight against Lassa fever but urged the country not to “let its foot off the pedal”.

    It assured the Federal Government its continuous support in maintaining intensified response to the outbreak.

    “WHO continues to help states that have reported new cases by strengthening their capacity to conduct disease surveillance, treat patients, implement infection prevention and control measures, laboratory diagnostics and engaging with communities.

    “Communities are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any rumour to the nearest health facility because early diagnosis and treatment can save lives.

    “Thirty-seven health workers have been infected with Lassa fever and eight have died.

    “This highlights the need to implement standard infection prevention and control precautions with all patients regardless of their diagnosis.

    “Health workers are urged to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever when handling patients with fever, headache, sore throat and general body weakness, especially when malaria has been ruled out with a Rapid Diagnostic Test.”

    The world body also urged health workers to adhere to standard precautions by wearing protective equipment like gloves, face masks, face shields and aprons when handling suspected Lassa fever patients.

    WHO in its Emergency Report, issued in April stated that in March less than 20 cases were reported each week while only five new cases were reported in the week ending April 15.

    These figures, according to WHO compare with earlier reports issued in January, the beginning of the outbreak, to Feb. 18, when the number of weekly reported Lassa fever cases increased from 10 to 70.

    NAN

  • Lassa fever: FG replies Saudi Arabia over threats to ban Nigerian pilgrimages

    Lassa fever: FG replies Saudi Arabia over threats to ban Nigerian pilgrimages

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, says Nigeria is no longer constitute a Lassa fever threat to global health as the country recorded only one case in the past one week.

    The minister said this on his Twitter handle @IsaacFAdewole.

    Recall that the Saudi Arabia authorities had threatened to ban Nigerian pilgrimages for this year’s Hajj spiritual exercise over the Lassa fever epidemic.

    The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its “Lassa fever Situation Report” published on its Twitter handle @NCDCgov said that the one confirmed case was reported from Edo.

    NCDC said that the centre experienced the lowest weekly case count this week since the first week of January 2018 when the outbreak was first reported this year.

    It said that from Jan. 1 to April 22, a total of 1,865 suspected cases were reported from 21 states.

    The centre said that of these cases, about 416 were confirmed, nine were probable, 1,439 were negative and one case was still awaiting laboratory results.

    It said that since the onset of the 2018 outbreak there has been 105 deaths with at least one confirmed case across 70 local government areas in the 21 states.

    The states include Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, Gombe, Ekiti, Kaduna, Abia and Adamawa as well FCT.

    “Twelve states have exited the active phase of the outbreak while nine states remain active.

    “In the reporting week 16, one new healthcare worker was infected in a private health facility in Edo state.

    “Thirty seven healthcare workers have been affected since the onset of the outbreak in eight states. 16 health workers were affected in Ebonyi, 12 in Edo, three in Ondo, two in Kogi, one in Benue and one in Nasarawa.

    “One health worker was affected in Taraba, and one in Abia,” NCDC said.

    The centre reported that three cases were currently being managed in treatment centres in Edo state the lowest number since the beginning of the outbreak.

    NCDC said that the National Lassa fever multi-partner multi-agency Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

    The centre stated that response to the outbreak has however been de-escalated due to continued decline of cases over the past nine weeks.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised that the declining trend of cases be interpreted with caution as historical data shows that the high transmission period is yet to pass.

    WHO says the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria is the largest outbreak ever reported in a country.

  • 2018 Hajj: Saudi Arabia threatens to ban Nigerian pilgrimages over Lassa fever epidemic

    The Saudi Arabian authorities has threatened to ban Nigerian pilgrimages for the 2018 Hajj spiritual exercise if the lingering Lassa fever outbreak is not curtailed.

    However, following the threat, the Federal Government has summoned Commissioners for health to a session with top officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

    The meeting will be chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha.

    Recall that the Saudi Arabian government has given Nigeria about 95,000 pilgrims’ slots for 2018 made up of 80,000 regular pilgrims and 15,000 by tour operators.

    But the government was jolted by alleged threats by Saudi Arabia to impose a ban on Nigerian pilgrims over Lassa fever outbreak.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “I think Saudi Arabia has been a bit worried about the outbreak of Lassa Fever in some states in the country. Its concern was suspected that it might lead to a ban of Nigerian pilgrims from this year’s Hajj.

    “Although no official diplomatic communication has been relayed to the Federal Government but Saudi Arabia has informally said it was bothered about the Lassa fever epidemic.

    “To ally the fears of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Government has invited all the commissioners for health and NAHCON officials for a meeting in Abuja today.

    “The session will take stock of the extent of the spread of the Lassa Fever and what has been done to curb it.

    “The collation of the facts and figures at the meeting will enable Nigeria to relate with Saudi Arabia with verifiable evidence.”

    A government official said: “We have not received a formal complaint from Saudi Arabia but the government is taking preemptive measures to make sure that the pilgrimage is not hampered.

    “We are doing this to support NAHCON which is noted for placing premium to health safety. If you look at NAHCON service so far, it has performed creditably with emphasis on the health of pilgrims through adequate immunization. The present leadership of NAHCON is the best the nation has ever had with its scientific operation and premium on healthcare for pilgrims.”

     

  • One dead, 81 quarantined in Adamawa’s Lassa Fever outbreak

    Adamawa Ministry of Health, on Monday, said one person has died from the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

    The Information Officer of the ministry, Mr Abubakar Muhammed, made the disclosure in Yola on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Muhammed said 81 others had been quarantined following the development.

    He said that 45 members of the deceased’s families and other 36 persons including some health workers who had direct contact with the deceased had also been quarantined.

    Muhammed explained that the state government, World Health Organisation and other collaborative agencies had established an emergency centre in Yola to receive information and quick response.

    He said that the centre would also serve as control centre of the killer disease.

    He said that the deceased, Gadiel Ambe, 46, hailed from Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa.

    Muhammed further explained that the late Ambe before his death was a Nigerian Secutity and Civil Defence Corps officer working in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba.

    ‘‘According to the record available, late Ambe fell sick in Gembu, Sardauna Local Government Area and he was later referred to Adamawa for treatment.

    ‘‘He was initially admitted at Peace Hospital, a private clinic in Jimeta and after cross examination he was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola where the hospital management confirmed he was Lassa fever positive,’’ Muhammed said.

    NAN

  • Nigeria lost 101 people to Lassa fever – Doctors without Borders

    …calls for more proactive measures against spread of disease

    A humanitarian medical organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on Saturday called for proactive vigilance in Nigeria against Lassa fever, as 101 persons have died in the recent outbreak of the disease.

    MSF also called Doctors without Borders disclosed that 101 persons were confirmed dead of the disease of the 146 total deaths recorded since the outbreak in the country.

    MFS’s Field Communication Manager, Maro Verli, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    The statement quoted Claire Lansard, MSF’s Emergency Coordinator, as saying that 1, 781 suspected cases of the disease were recorded at various facilities in the country between December 2017 and March 2018.

    Lansard said: “the current outbreak is the largest in recent years, with 1,781 suspected cases; of which 408 were confirmed, and 146 deaths while 101 were confirmed to be Lassa fever.

    “However, the number of cases reporting to health facilities has declined in the recent weeks according to figures from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.

    “Health workers have also been affected by the outbreak, with deaths occurring amongst nurses, healthcare assistants and doctors become infected by treating patients who were not aware they had the disease or by working without adequate protective equipment such as gowns, gloves and masks”.

    Lansard stressed that vigilance was required despite reduction of the cases in the past two months.

    He explained that the disease could first appear with very mild symptoms, but if people are worried that they might be infected, they should visit the nearest health centre.

    “Lassa is a viral hemorrhagic fever that occurs every year in Nigeria between December and March.

    “The disease is spread to humans through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected multimammate rat and could then spread between people in the same way.

    “Though it starts with symptoms such as fever, nausea and headaches, in around one in five people it could lead to more serious symptoms such as organ failure.

    “The numbers of cases have reduced in the past few weeks; we still need to be vigilant to protect patients and health workers against Lassa fever.

    “MSF has long-term experience caring for people affected by viral hemorrhagic fever, and helping health services to protect staff as they care for these patients. We are pleased to be sharing this technical expertise with the Nigerian Health Services, and to be working together to tackle this outbreak,” Lansard said.

    Verli disclosed further that the organisation had scaled up activities in collaboration with health institutions to respond to severe outbreak in areas where the disease manifested.

    He said that MSF teams had been working in three of the most affected states; Bauchi, Ebonyi and Ondo, to control the disease.

    The communication manager revealed that the organisation had erected an isolation facility in Bauchi with capacity to treat six persons, while the team was providing training to personnel of the Ministry of Health on how to treat patients.

    He added that the organisation had also donated drugs to care for those suffering from the disease and worked with the most affected communities to create awareness on the symptoms of the disease.

    “MSF is working in collaboration with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, to support and strengthen the functioning of the Virology Centre dedicated to treat patients with Lassa fever.

    “The team is also providing training and equipment to staff working in the Virology Centre and to those working at the entry points of the hospital where they could come into contact with patients who might come to the hospital for treatment without knowing that they have Lassa fever.

    “These include emergency, gynaecology and obstetrics departments as well as emergency departments for adults and children. The training being provided will also help the hospital team to prepare for another outbreak next year,” Verli said.

    Similarly, the organisation trained health workers in Ondo; where 28 deaths were recorded of the 287 suspected and 98 confirmed cases.

    Verli said that apart from the training exercise, MSF donated Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) kits to eight health facilities and rehabilitated the only isolation ward in Akure, Ondo State.

    The project, he said, included rehabilitation of the isolation ward, construction of a waste management area, triage, ambulance pathway and other minor works in the hospital.

    MSF also trained health workers in Anambra state on how to treat patients and to set up an isolation facility, adding that the team had been deployed to Ebonyi sequel to effective control of the outbreak in Anambra.

    According to him, MSF was also running an extensive child and reproductive health projects in Sokoto and Jigawa; provision of care to children affected by lead poisoning in Zamfara and Niger States as well as victims of sexual violence in Port Harcourt.

    MSF has also been providing healthcare services to people affected by conflict in northeastern state since 2014.

  • Cholera, Lassa fever kill 14 in Bauchi — Commissioner

    Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Zuwaira Hassan, on Friday, confirmed that 14 people died in the state following outbreak of cholera and Lassa fever.

    Hassan made this known while briefing newsmen at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU- TH) Bauchi during her visit to the cholera quarantine ward.

    According to her, nine people died as a result of cholera outbreak, while Lassa fever claimed five lives.

    She said “since the outbreak of these epidemics, we have had a total of 324 cases of cholera and recorded nine deaths.

    “Right now, the cholera isolation centre is active and we have about 26 patients on admission who are being treated.”

    On Lassa fever, Hassan said there were 44 suspected cases, nine confirmed cases, while five persons had been confirmed dead so far.

    She stressed the need for proper hygiene and urged residents to avoid open defecation, saying faeces in open places could pass and mix with drinking water which was dangerous to health.

    She said community volunteers were out on sensitisation to educate the people on hygiene and environmental sanitation, while the state Ministry of Health chlorinated water and decontaminated the environment.

    According to the commissioner, five local governments affected by the cholera outbreak are Bauchi, Toro, Darazo, Tafawa Balewa and Ganjuwa.

    She urged the people to come to treatment centres as soon as they started having symptoms of cholera as the treatment was free.

    She commended Federal Government for quick intervention to support Bauchi State Government in tackling the outbreak.

  • Lassa fever kills three in Ekiti

    Three persons have been confirmed dead in a fresh case of Lassa fever in Ekiti.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rotimi Ojo, made the disclosure in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.

    He said that five out of the eight new suspected cases in the state tested negative while one was uncertain, with the last pending as at press time.

    Ojo added that the patient that tested positive and two others had passed away.

    The commissioner insisted that there was still no cause for alarm in the state as the government was taking proactive steps in its surveillance activities.

    He gave an assurance that the State Disease Control team had been activated while the process of sensitising the people with jingles and other communication media were ongoing.

    Ojo said that similar actions taken during the 2016 outbreak were successful, adding that the epidemic was controlled and the identified patient, who was properly managed, survived.

    He said that the three isolation centres located at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Oba Adejuyigbe General Hospital, Ado Ekiti and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, were still operational.

    The commissioner urged all stakeholders, including health practitioners, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as community and opinion leaders, to collaborate with the state government to prevent the spread of the disease.

    Ojo also advised residents of the state to avoid self-medication and keeping sick people at home, adding that any unusual increase in temperature or fever must be promptly reported to the nearest health facility.

    He further urged residents to embrace environmental sanitation practices and general cleanliness.

  • Lassa Fever: Death toll raises to 90

    The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday confirmed the death of 90 persons from Lassa fever.

    The situation report from NCDC for week eight, released on Friday disclosed that from January 1 to February 25, 2018, 1081 suspected cases and 90 deaths have been reported from 18 states rising from the initial 54 recorded.

    These states are Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe and Ekiti.

    The new situation report showed that 36 people died within a week.

    Fourteen health workers were also affected in six states- Ebonyi (seven), Nasarawa (one), Kogi (one), Benue (one), Ondo (one) and Edo (three) with four deaths in Ebonyi and one in Kogi.

    Sixty-nine per cent of all confirmed cases are from Edo (43 per cent) and Ondo (26 per cent). Case Fatality Rate in confirmed and probable cases is 22 per cent.

    As at last week, NCDC weekly epidemiological report released for ‘week seven’ disclosed that 913 suspected cases of the disease had been reported from 17 states.

    Out of these, 272 cases were confirmed positive and 54 deaths recorded giving a case fatality rate of 21 per cent.

    The situation report shows that the predominant age group affected is age group 21-40. The male to female ratio for confirmed cases is also 2:1.

    “A total of 2845 contacts have been identified from 18 active states and 1897 are currently being followed up,” states the report.

    Mr. Ihekweazu in an interview with Arise TV blamed the late presentation of the disease for treatment as one of the reasons for high mortality rates of the disease.

    He enjoined doctors to immediately ‘suspect’ Lassa fever whenever a patient comes to the hospital with presentations of ailments similar to fever.

    Mr. Ihekweazu said doctors should always take precautionary measures while handling patients’ treatments and also ensure to first test for malaria immediately patient present malaria symptoms.

    He said there are effective cheap rapid malaria test kits in the market that can be used to test for malaria.

    Mr. Ihekweazu explained that early presentation will make it easy to treat the patients instead of treatment of malaria for weeks when that is not the case.

    Meanwhile, NCDC has deployed teams to four Benin Republic border states (Kebbi, Kwara, Niger and Oyo) for enhanced surveillance activities, the report states.

    The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, had earlier blamed states health commissioners for lack of preparedness and slow medical intervention in tackling outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.

    Mr. Adewole had expressed disappointment at the way most states handled the outbreak as it showed lack of preparedness.

  • Over 54 Nigerians died from Lassa fever outbreak since January – NCDC

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that so far, some 54 Nigerians have died in the seven weeks of the Lassa fever outbreak which hit the country early 2018.

    The NCDC in its weekly epidemiological report for week seven, released on Wednesday, disclosed that a total of 913 suspected cases of the disease have been reported across 17 states. The states are: Edo, Ondo, Kogi, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Plateau, Gombe, Kaduna, Taraba, FCT, Oyo, Delta, Nasarawa, Anambra, Osun Benue and Lagos

    According to the health agency, 272 cases of the disease have been confirmed positive and 54 deaths recorded, giving a case fatality rate of 21 per cent.

    Some of the states most affected by the outbreak are Edo, which has recorded the highest number of suspected cases, Ondo and Ebonyi. Most of the patients are also being managed in the three states.

    According to the agency, the most critical aspect of an outbreak response is coordination of all activities.

    Since the outbreak of the disease, response activities have been carried out in all affected states and coordinated nationally by NCDC, the report stated.

    The report also stated that Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) have been set up in states where outbreaks have been reported.

    “The EOC serves as the command centre for all activities during the outbreak,” the report stated.

    NCDC said in this current outbreak, the National Lassa fever EOC operates on six major pillars: coordination, surveillance/epidemiology, case management/infection prevention and control/safe burial, risk communication, logistics and supplies and laboratory.

    The members of the EOC are drawn from various ministries including the ministries of agriculture and environment as well as partner agencies.

    As the outbreak continues with more states reporting confirmed cases, NCDC also encourages all states to set up state-level EOC for proper and better management response activities.

    Currently, Lassa fever testing is carried out across three laboratories in Nigeria. Theses laboratories are: Institute of Lassa fever Control located in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State; National Reference laboratory (also known as the NCDC laboratory), Gaduwa, Abuja; and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    The NCDC has also provided support for all testing laboratories with provision of reagents and other consumables.

    The first Lassa fever case this year was confirmed in Ebonyi State when four people including three health workers died from the disease.

    Health workers are most times secondary victims who get infected while treating patients with the disease.