Nigeria’s Health Minister Osagie Ehanire disclosed on Tuesday that no fewer than 41 persons have died of Lassa fever in the country.
Ehanire also hinted that about 258 cases have been confirmed so far from 19 states.
He appealed to all Nigerians to help curb spread of the disease, considering the nation’s ecological profile.
At a briefing in Abuja, Ehanire told reporters: “Lassa fever is a disease that is indigenous to our country because it occurs every year, particularly in the dry season.
“As of the 28th of January, 2020, 258 confirmed cases and 41 deaths have been reported in 19 states, with a majority of the cases from Ebonyi, Edo and Ondo states.
“Given the tropical climate in Nigeria and the abundance of the disease vectors, the high risk of infectious diseases like Lassa fever is high.
“Despite the increase in confirmed cases, the overall case-fatality rate for 2020 has been just about 15 per cent compared to the same in 2019, which was 20 per cent.
“A few years ago the case fatality rate was over 30 per cent.”
Ehanire said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has activated a National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate responses to the outbreak
“The EOC, which was constituted on January 24, includes representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and other partners.
“While we are gradually moving towards achieving a single-digit fatality rate, we will continue to support response activities like surveillance and contact tracing in affected states through the deployment of rapid response teams for improved case management and outcomes.
“The rapid response teams have so far been deployed to five states – Ebonyi, Enugu, Kano, Borno and Ondo states.
“It is important for health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and practice universal health precautions to protect themselves from infections by using surgical masks, gloves, laboratory coats and aprons.
“Further information on Lassa fever can be obtained from the following number – 08099555577.”
On coronavirus, Ehanire said his ministry was working with relevant ministries and agencies to strengthen surveillance and response to public health emergencies at points of entry.
The minister explained that the risk factor for coronavirus depends largely on air travel volume.
“Nigeria has a moderate risk factor because we do not have the huge air travel volume that other high risks countries have,” he said.
NCDC Director of Prevention, Programmes and Knowledge, Dr Joshua Obasanya, said two health workers died from Lassa fever out of the six affected.
“We lost two of the health workers,” he said.
Also yesterday, Taraba’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Innocent Vakkai, told reporters in Jalingo that 15 suspected cases were tested and six tested positive, out of which four died.
Acting Head, Clinical Services of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Dr Ahmed Jatau, added: “A medical doctor tested positive”.
He explained that the doctor, a house officer, was undergoing treatment at the Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.
Seven suspected cases of Lassa fever were recorded in Gombe State, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ahmed Gana.
He said two were confirmed and one died; the other one was treated and discharged.
Gana said among the remaining five suspected cases, one later died while waiting for laboratory confirmation.
The management of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital dispelled rumours that a youth corps member serving in Asaba and two pregnant women admitted for Lassa fever died.
It said the two pregnant women were brought in from Ondo and Ogun states and both delivered their babies safely.
The hospital is a centre for diagnosing and treatment of Lassa fever.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Sylvanus Okogbenin, told reporters that the corps members had received dialysis and was recovering.
Okogbenin said the doctor from Jalingo was responding to treatment, even as 27 others were treated and discharged.
According to him, 61 patients were on a
