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December 14, 2021 | Abuja-After the outbreak in Nigeria, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention strengthens Lassa fever surveillance and response activities
On December 8, 2021, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) learned that two people had died of Lassa fever. The first case was a pregnant woman who was treated at a medical institution in Nasarawa State, and the next case was a doctor who was involved in patient management and later sought medical care in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In addition, another doctor related to the index case has also been confirmed to have Lassa fever and is currently receiving treatment at FCT. With the support of NCDC, the Ministry of Health of Nasarawa State has begun an in-depth epidemiological investigation of the cases to understand the possible source of infection and the spread of the disease. Contact tracing of close contacts of all patients has begun.
After Nasarawa State and FCT confirmed these cases of Lassa fever, the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened the activities of the national multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary Lassa fever technical working group (TWG) to conduct Lassa fever surveillance in the country And response. The affected states and the FCT also activated the Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Center. The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention expresses sympathy to the family members and medical staff of patients who lost their lives due to the disease.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, especially in healthcare settings that lack or inadequate infection control measures. Lassa fever initially appears like any other febrile disease (such as malaria), so it requires high suspicion, especially for medical staff. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, chest pain, and in severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings. The time between infection and the appearance of disease symptoms is 3 to 21 days. Early treatment and diagnosis can increase the chance of survival.
The disease is endemic in Nigeria, just like in several other countries in West Africa. Most cases occur during the dry season, usually between November and May. Since January 2021, a total of 434 confirmed cases have been reported in seventeen (17) states and sixty-three (63) local government districts (LGAs) of Nigeria, with 80 deaths (ie, a case fatality rate of 18%). View the latest situation report here (https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps)
Since 2016, the National Center for Disease Control has vigorously improved its disease diagnosis capabilities. Currently, Nigeria has seven laboratories capable of detecting Lassa fever, which is coordinated by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory (NRL). This improves active case detection and care of affected individuals, which might have been overlooked five years ago. In addition, through the NCDC, Nigeria participated in the largest Lassa fever study in history supported by the Alliance for Epidemiological Prevention and Innovation (CEPI) to accurately assess the incidence of the disease in West Africa. This is also conducive to the development of vaccines and treatments for Lassa fever.
NCDC continues to provide support to states by providing emergency medical and laboratory supplies and deploying rapid response teams (RRT). The RRT works with all state response pillars through the State Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) to strengthen preparedness and response activities. This includes epidemic investigation, contact list and tracking, response coordination, case management, risk communication, and strengthening infection prevention and control practices.
Following the recommended One Health approach, NCDC is working with relevant ministries, departments and agencies, and partners to strengthen the ability of states to effectively manage the outbreak and COVID-19 and other public health-related diseases. In addition, risk communication activities are being carried out through radio, posters, leaflets and social media. The Federal Ministry of Environment is also launching an environmental response campaign against Lassa fever in high-burden states.
To reduce the risk of Lassa fever spreading, NCDC provides the following recommendations:
a) Ensure proper environmental hygiene—that is, keep your environment clean at all times and block all holes in your home to prevent rats from entering.
b) Cover the garbage bin and dispose of the garbage properly. The community should set up a garbage dump far away from home to reduce the chance of rodents in the home
c) Store rice, garri, beans, corn/corns and other foods in containers covered with airtight lids
d) Avoid drying food on the outdoor ground or roadside, otherwise it will be contaminated
e) Avoid burning bushes, which will cause rats to move from bushes to human dwellings
f) Eliminate rats in families and communities by setting up mousetraps and other methods
g) Wash hands frequently with soap under running water/or use hand sanitizer when appropriate, and maintain good personal hygiene
h) If you find any of the signs and symptoms of Lassa fever mentioned above, please visit the nearest medical institution and avoid self-medication
It is also recommended that medical staff take standard precautions and always maintain a high degree of suspicion. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) must be performed on all suspected cases of malaria. When RDT is negative, other causes of febrile illness should be considered, including Lassa fever. Accurate diagnosis and timely treatment can increase the chance of survival.
The Nigerian Center for Disease Control continues to work to support public health teams in all states to prevent and respond to public health threats.
The Nigerian Center for Disease Control is the country’s national public health agency. Its mission is to lead the preparation, detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill establishing the NCDC Act in November 2018. The mission of NCDC (2017-2021) is to "protect the health of Nigerians through evidence-based prevention, integrated disease surveillance and response activities, using a single health approach, guided by research, and led by a skilled workforce."
NCDC Toll Free: 6232 | SMS: 08099555577 | WhatsApp: 0708110839 Twitter: @NCDCGov | Facebook: @NCDCgov | Instagram: @NCDCgov | NCDC Media Release
Nigeria Center for Disease Control DG
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