Since the beginning of 2018, a total number of 107 suspected Lassa fever cases have been recorded in ten States: Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo and Lagos States. As at 21st January 2018, the total number of confirmed cases is 61, with 16 deaths recorded.
Ten health care workers have been infected in four States (Ebonyi – 7, Nasarawa – 1, Kogi – 1 and Benue – 1) with three deaths in Ebonyi State.
The outbreak has prompted the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to activate its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate the response on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health.
The EOC has deployed Rapid Response Teams to the most affected States- Ebonyi, Ondo and Edo States.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. Person-to-person transmission can also occur, particularly in hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures. Health care workers in health facilities are particularly at risk of contracting the disease, especially where infection prevention and control procedures are not strictly adhered to.
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Lassa fever can be prevented through practicing good personal hygiene and proper environmental sanitation. Effective measures include storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households, and other measures to discourage rodents from entering homes. Hand washing should be practiced frequently.
Related:
- Uganda health minister reports on more Rift Valley Fever, Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
- Lassa fever: Four cases reported in Benin via Nigeria
- Botulism outbreak kills two in Nigeria
- Guinea worm disease: 30 cases reported in 2017, a slight increase
- Nigeria monkeypox: ‘Index case appears not to be imported’
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