LASSA FEVER – NIGERIA (11): UPDATE
A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Thu 4 Jul 2024
Source: Premium Times [edited]
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/709659-lassa-fever-nigeria-records-two-new-cases-as-deaths-reduce.html
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 2 new
confirmed cases of Lassa fever in week 25 of 2024, spanning 17 to 23
Jun.
With no fatalities recorded in the reporting week, the latest NCDC
situation report indicates a significant decline in the number of
people dying from the disease across the country.
Edo State in the South-South accounted for the new confirmed cases in
the country.
In the past 5 weeks (weeks 21 to 25), the disease control centre has
not reported any fatalities from the disease, which has claimed 162
lives from the beginning of the year to week 20.
From weeks 21 to 25, spanning 20 May to 23 Jun, the country recorded
33 confirmed cases out of the total of 920 cases reported across 125
local government areas in 27 states and the FCT.
Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria, and the annual peak is typically
observed during the dry season (December-April). Thus, the decline in
cases is expected as the dry season ends and the rainy season begins.
Breakdown of cases
While no health worker was affected in the reporting week 25, NCDC
data shows that a total of 33 health workers have been affected by the
disease in 2024.
Cumulatively, from weeks 1 to 25, NCDC noted that 162 deaths have been
recorded with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.6 per cent, which is
less than the CRF for the same period in 2023 (20.0) per cent.
It noted that the number of suspected cases (6902) increased compared
to that reported for the same period in 2023 (5381).
According to NCDC, 66 per cent of all confirmed cases were recorded
from 3 states — Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi — while 34 per cent were
reported from 25 states.
The report stated that of the 66 per cent, Ondo recorded 26 per cent,
Edo 22 per cent, and Bauchi 18 per cent.
NCDC noted that the predominant age group affected by the infection is
21 to 30 years.
Efforts, challenges
NCDC highlighted in the latest report its continued efforts
coordinating the response to the outbreak, including contact tracing,
surveillance, and awareness campaigns.
It noted that some of the challenges include late presentation of the
cases leading to an increase in CFR, and poor health-seeking behaviour
due to the high cost of treatment and clinical management. Other
challenges are poor environmental sanitation conditions and poor
awareness reportedly observed in high-burden communities.
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic (excessive bleeding) illness
transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items
contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.
Its symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general body
weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest
pain, and, in severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes,
nose, mouth, and other body openings.