The nation is, once again, in the throes of another Lassa fever outbreak with 76 suspected cases, 35 deaths and a case fatality of 46 percent recorded in seven states in the past six weeks. The outbreak began in Bauchi and later spread to Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers and Edo.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has assured the people that measures have been put in place to curtail the spread of the infection and reduce mortality among the affected. He stressed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been notified of the development.
Meanwhile, the minister has directed all health facilities in the country to emphasise routine infection prevention and control measures as well as ensure that all patients are given free treatment. He advised healthcare workers and families of infected persons to avoid contact with their blood and other body fluids.
He also directed that all suspected cases should immediately be reported to the epidemiologists in state Ministries of Health or the Federal Ministry of Health. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is reportedly coordinating the response to the outbreak.
According to medical experts, Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of one to four weeks duration that occurs in West Africa. It is usually transmitted to humans through food or household items contaminated with the urine or fecal matter of rats.
Available information from WHO shows that person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, especially in hospitals that do not have adequate infection prevention and control measures.
The incubation period of the disease ranges from six to 21 days. Fever, general weakness and malaise are early symptoms. Later symptoms of the disease after a few days include headache, sore throat, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough and abdominal pain. Also, facial swelling, fluid in the lungs, bleeding from the mouth, nose and gastrointestinal tract, as well as low blood pressure may develop.
This is not the first time Nigeria will be having an outbreak of Lassa fever. Available statistics from the Federal Ministry of Health show that the nation recorded over 1,944 cases with 207 deaths in 2012. It also recorded over 200 cases and 40 deaths in the Northern part of the country in 2013.
We commend the Federal Government for its early intervention and the proactive measures adopted to ensure that the disease does not spread to other parts of the country. Let all the state Ministries of Health be on red alert and respond quickly to the disease. It is necessary to ensure that adequate diagnostic materials and treatment drugs are made available to all states, especially the affected ones. All major health facilities should be equipped to diagnose and treat the infection. We urge all health workers to be diligent in handling the cases and avoid contact with patients’ body fluids to avoid unnecessary high casualty among them as witnessed in 2013.
Since the disease is spread by rodents, care should be taken to avoid contact between food and rodents. This calls for environmental hygiene and public enlightenment.
We enjoin all Nigerians to clean their environment and ensure that rats’ urine and droppings do not get into their foods. The government should embark on public education on the disease, its symptoms and how to access treatment. Such messages should be in English, Pidgin and major Nigerian languages.
Above all, let all Nigerians join the government in ensuring that the epidemic is halted in the manner Ebola Virus Disease was defeated.