The Lassa fever outbreak has killed 173 people in the country so far this year.

The Situation Report for week 40 obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday showed that the cases were reported in 26 states and 104 local government areas.

The NCDC noted that of all the confirmed cases, 71 per cent are from Ondo (33 per cent), Edo (25 per cent), and Bauchi (13 per cent) States.

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever and an acute viral illness. This zoonotic disease has a high morbidity and mortality rate, as well as economic, health and security implications.

The report read in part, “In week 40, the number of new confirmed cases is the same as reported in week 39, 2022 to four cases. These were reported from Ondo, Bauchi and Ekiti States.

“Cumulatively from week one to week 40, 2022, 173 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 18.5 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (23.1 per cent).

In total for 2022, 26 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 104 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 71 per cent are from Ondo (33 per cent), Edo (25 per cent), and Bauchi (13 per cent) States.

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 0 to 90 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.

“The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.

“No new Healthcare worker affected in the reporting week 40.

“National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels.”

This is just as the death toll hits 172 so far in the year.

The report revealed that the confirmed cases for week 38 were higher than the confirmed cases recorded in the same period in 2021, which were 379.

Lassa fever is an acute viral illness and a viral haemorrhagic fever. The causative agent is a single-stranded RNA virus in the family Arenaviridae, the Lassa virus.

The report partly read, “Cumulatively from week 1 to week 38, 2022, 172 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 18.5 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (23.0 per cent).

“In total for 2022, 25 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 102 local government areas.Of all confirmed cases, 71 per cent are from Ondo (32 per cent), Edo (26 per cent), and Bauchi (13 per cent) states.”

Also, the NCDC said monkeypox confirmed cases are now 318 as of September 4, 2022.

The centre noted that seven persons had succumbed to the disease so far in the year.

The 35th-week situation report also showed that there are 815 suspected cases of the virus in the country.

The report showed that no fewer than 41 new confirmed cases were recorded in the week under review in the country.

Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e. an infection transmitted from animals to humans) that occurs sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. It is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.

“From January 1 to September 4, 2022, Nigeria has recorded 815 suspected cases with 318 confirmed cases (210 male, 108 female) from 30 states – Lagos (63), Ondo (24), Abia (22), Bayelsa (19), Rivers (19), Imo (17), Edo (16), Adamawa (15), Delta (15), Ogun (12), FCT (11), Anambra (10), Nasarawa (9), Plateau (7), Oyo (6), Taraba (5), Kwara (5), Kano (5), Gombe (5), Ebonyi (5), Katsina (5), Cross River (4), Benue (4), Borno (3), Kogi (3), Akwa Ibom (3), Osun (2), Niger (1), Bauchi (1), and Kaduna (1).”

“Seven associated deaths were recorded from seven states in 2022 – Delta (1), Lagos (1), Ondo (1) and Akwa Ibom (1), Kogi (1), Taraba (1) and Imo (1). CFR is 2.2 per cent.”

The latest situation report released for week 26 by the NCDC also showed that there are 5,510 suspected cases of the infection across 98 Local Government Areas in 24 states.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever and an acute viral illness and the zoonotic disease has a high morbidity and mortality rate and economic and health security implications.

Following the outbreak of the viral infection this year, the National Emergency Operations Centre response mode Level 2 was activated for effective multi-sectoral, and multi-disciplinary coordination.

The report showed that of all confirmed cases, 68% are from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi States.

“In week 26, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 10 in week 25, 2022, to 9 cases. These were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Benue States.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 26, 2022, 160 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.3% which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (20.0%).

“In total for 2022, 24 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 98 Local Government Areas.

“The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 90 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.

The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.

“No new healthcare worker affected in the reporting week 26.

“National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels,” the NCDC noted.

Meanwhile, medical experts urge the government to prevent the disease and break the chain of transmission.

A former chairman of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, said “The government needs to break the chain of transmission, they know how to do it and ensure that they enforce the law. They need to create awareness on hygiene, hand-washing, and necessary protocols.

All the viral infections have been predicted earlier and the truth about it is that we are not bothered about prevention, so the government should intensify their efforts in putting prevention first.”

Also, the immediate past president of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, said prevention was key.

“The government should create more treatment centres for Lassa fever. Prevention is better than cure and we should create more awareness on the need for hygiene,” he said.

The Minister of State for Health, Senator Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the ministry’s bi-weekly COVID-19 update.

He explained that in 23 States in the country, 3,746 suspected cases and 691 confirmed cases had also been recorded.

According to him, Lassa fever cases were on the rise, with a case fatality rate of 19.1 percent.

He noted that in Lagos State, there was an increase in COVID-19 cases, while in the Federal Capital Territory, a decline in cases was being witnessed.

According to Mamora, in Kaduna, Kwara and Rivers States, there was stability in cases of COVID-19, whereas that of other States could not be ascertained.

He disclosed that the government planned sequencing the virus by the end of April, explaining that the data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency showed that 60 percent of those who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine returned to take the second dose.

Ifedayo Adetifa, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, noted that contrary to media reports, Nigeria was not witnessing increase in COVID-19 cases.

According to him, the agency was strengthening its national laboratory network, stressing that eight States could now test about 1000 samples per week.

The centre, in its latest advisory made available to one of our correspondents in Abuja, warned Nigerians of the possibilities of Lassa fever presenting malaria-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough among others.

On its part, the NCDC disclosed that it had sent letters to states on the dangers of Lassa fever and the symptoms to look out for.

Since, the last outbreak of the disease in 2016, the NCDC noted that there had been an increase in the number of recurring cases. In 2019, the centre noted that a total of 796 cases were reported, while in 2020, a total of 1,165 cases were confirmed during the height of the pandemic.

But in its latest advisory and situation report, the NCDC said, “Lassa fever initially presents like any other febrile disease such as malaria. 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. Healthcare workers should maintain a high index suspicion for Lassa fever. Any illness that has not responded to 48 hours use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should raise and index suspicion for Lassa fever The time between infection and appearance of symptoms of the disease is 6 to 21 days. Early diagnosis and treatment increase the chances of survival”.

Concerning the deaths, the NCDC stated that Ondo had the highest number of deaths reporting no fewer than 47 deaths, Edo reported 15 deaths, Bauchi 12; Taraba 12; Ebonyi 9; Kaduna 4; Enugu 1 and Nasarawa with two deaths respectively.”

The NCDC gave the number of cases and the respective states as follows, “Edo 2,725; Ondo 1,006;  Bauchi 164; Ebonyi 143; Nassarawa 79; Taraba 72; FCT 59; Kaduna 53;Delta 50; Plateau 42; Benue 34; Kano 24 Gombe 22; Kogi 17;Lagos 16; Borno 15; Enugu 14.

Others include Jigawa 12; Abia 11; Anambra 10; Rivers 10; Imo 9; Adamawa 8; Kwara 4; Yobe four; Oyo four; Cross River four; Bayelsa three; Sokoto three; Ekiti three; Ogun three; Osun three; Katsina two; Kebbi two; Niger one and Zamfara one.

The NCDC stated that “Confirmed cases are treated at identified treatment centres across the country, Lassa fever alert letter sent to states, response team have been deployed to three states.

The NCDC also added that” The five Lassa fever molecular laboratories in the NCDC network are working full capacity to ensure that all samples are tested and results provided within the shortest turnaround time.”

Nigerian children aged 0-59 months at immediate risk of contracting polio, NPHCDA warns

Meanwhile, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has warned that all Nigerian Children aged 0-59 months are at immediate risk of contracting the poliovirus following the recent outbreak of the Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus in Nigeria.

This is as Lagos, Kebbi, Federal Capital Territory, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, Ekiti and Kwara states reported 68 cases of the CVDPV2 within one week.

As of last week, the total number of deaths was 161, meaning 15 people recently died of the disease. 28 new cases of the disease which is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces have been confirmed.

Symptoms of Lassa fever include high fever, soar throat, nausea, fever and general weakness. The antiviral drug ribavirin seems to be an effective treatment for Lassa fever if given early in the course of clinical illness.

Prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good “community hygiene” to discourage rodents from entering homes.

According to the NCDC, 2633 suspected cases, 689 confirmed cases and 118 deaths have been recorded in the country from January 1 to February 23.

The number of casualties has increased significantly from what was reported for the same period in 2019. At same time in 2019, 1249 suspected cases with 381 confirmed and 83 deaths were recorded.

Abayomi called on residents to be calm and not panic as the state government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, will do everything possible to control the spread of the disease in the state.

He said “The Ministry of Health through Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health Directorate is currently carrying out ‘contact tracing’ to determine those who may have been infected in line with international standards while we beef up our other surveillance strategies. Members of the public are further advised to avoid contact with rats, to always cover their food and water properly, cook all their food thoroughly, as well as block all holes in the septic tanks and holes through which rats can enter the house and clear rat hideouts within the premises. Isolation wards have been prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases, drugs, and other materials have also been prepositioned at designated facilities while health workers have been placed on red alert and community sensitization activities intensified”

The cabinet members who spoke to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday January 27, 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.