The NCDC has raised an alarm over the increased cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria, this January 2022.
This was contained in a statement released on Sunday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
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The statement reported 4,632 cases of Lassa fever across Nigeria and 102 deaths.
The NCDC warned that Lassa fever presents malaria-like symptoms such as:
Fever.
Headache.
Sore throat.
General body weakness.
Cough.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhoea.
Muscle pains.
Chest pan.
Other severe symptoms include:
Bleeding from ears, eyes, nose and mouth.
Bleeding from other body openings.
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Since the 2016 outbreak, there had been a rise in the cases. In 2020, Nigeria recorded a total of 1,165 cases. This was more than the 796 cases recorded in 2019.
The NCDC advised health workers in the latest advisory.
“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,” it read.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths recorded were:
Ondo – 47.
Edo – 15.
Bauchi – 12.
Taraba – 12.
Ebonyi – 9.
Kaduna – 4.
Enugu – 1.
Nasarawa – 2.
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Meanwhile, the state-by-state record of cases are:
Edo – 2,725.
Ondo – 1,006.
Bauchi – 164.
Ebonyi – 143.
Nasarawa – 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.
Abia – 11.
Anambra – 10.
Rivers – 10.
Imo – 9.
Adamawa – 8.
Kwara – 4.
Yobe – 4.
Oyo – 4.
Cross-River – 4.
Sokoto – 3.
Ekiti – 3.
Ogun – 3.
Osun – 3.
Bayelsa – 3.
Katsina – 2.
Kebbi – 2.
Zamfara – 1.
Niger – 1.
“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 noted.
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.”
Source: PUNCH HeathWise
