About 8,569 suspected circumstances, of Lassa fever 1,035 confirmed circumstances, and 174 deaths had been recorded throughout 28 states and 129 LGAs within the nation as of October 13, 2024.
In the meantime, the Nigeria Centre for Illness Management and Prevention (NCDC) has cautioned Nigerians to keep away from drying meals stuff exterior on the bottom or roadside, the place it’s susceptible to contamination, discourage bush burning, and get rid of rats in properties and communities by means of applicable and secure means.
Director Common of NCDC, Jide Idris, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, famous that the company has continued to see a gradual enhance within the variety of states reporting Lassa fever circumstances.
He added that the rise is because of improved surveillance, higher neighborhood consciousness, environmental degradation from local weather change, and different dangerous human actions.
He noticed that in 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed circumstances throughout 27 states and 112 LGAs whereas in 2023, 28 states and 114 LGAs reported confirmed circumstances, with 9,155 suspected circumstances, 1,270 confirmed circumstances, and 227 deaths.
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Idris mentioned that Lassa fever outbreaks are extremely virulent and the lack of human lives ensuing from illness usually are not simply statistics however symbolize the demise of beloved members of the family.
He famous that healthcare employees are additionally not excluded as there’s a excessive likelihood of an infection if correct an infection prevention and management measures usually are not noticed and skilled healthcare employees could die, additional straining the nation’s already inadequate human sources for well being.
He noticed that Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) attributable to the Lassa virus including that the pure reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat whereas different rodents may act as carriers of the virus
Idris famous that the illness can also be related to important lack of livelihood within the communities it ravages.
In response to him, individuals most in danger for Lassa fever embody individuals of all age teams who are available contact with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of contaminated rats, individuals residing in rat-infested environments, and individuals who devour probably contaminated foodstuff, particularly these left open in a single day or dried exterior within the open amongst others
Idris mentioned that early prognosis and therapy of the ailments vastly enhance the possibilities of affected person survival.
He urged Nigerians to all the time preserve their surroundings clear, block all holes of their homes to forestall the entry of rats and different rodents, cowl the dustbins, and get rid of refuse correctly.
He implored communities to arrange dump websites removed from their properties to cut back the possibilities of the entry of rodents into their properties.
