Lassa fever Archives - Naija Premium Gist

Lassa Fever kills 142 persons in 23 states

March 29, 2023 No Comments

Nigeria has recorded about 784 confirmed cases of Lassa fever with 142 deaths across 23 states in the last three months, as disclosed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The NCDC said the infections were recorded from January 1 till date. In Epidemiological Week 11, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 70 in Week 10 of 2023 to 38 cases.

The cases were reported from Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, Rivers, Plateau and Nasarawa States. From Epidemiological Week 1 to Week 11, 142 deaths had been reported with Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.1 per cent which was lower than the 18.7 per cent CFR for the same period in 2022.

23 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 97 local government areas. 71 per cent of all new confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi while 29 per cent came from six states.

Ondo reported 32 per cent, Edo, 29 and Bauchi, 10. The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years with the median age as 32 years. The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases was 1:0.9.

The number of suspected cases increased compared to the number reported for the same period in 2022. It was also gathered that a healthcare worker was affected in Week 11.

World News

Cholera kills 233 in 31 states, 173 die of Lassa Fever – NCDC

October 12, 2022 No Comments

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that a total of 10, 217 suspected cases of cholera, including 233 deaths, have been recorded in 31 states this year.

Speaking at a ministerial briefing where he gave an update on COVID-19 response and development in the health sector, Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said on Tuesday October 11, that there’s a 47 percent increase in the number of new suspected cholera cases in August epidemiological week 36-39 (4017) compared with July epidemiological week 31-35 (2151).

Adetifa also said there’s been 933 confirmed cases and 173 deaths from Lassa fever as at Week 39, from 25 states. Out of all the confirmed cases, 71 percent were from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi States.

He also said that out of 18,545 confirmed measles cases, 234 deaths were recorded as at week 39 in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Out of 1,180 suspected Monkeypox cases, 481 cases were confirmed and seven deaths have been recorded this year.

Adetifa also said that COVID-19 cases had continued to decline in various countries, and case trends in Nigeria have varied.

Lifestyle

Oyo govt sets up surveillance system as lassa fever kills two

January 18, 2022 No Comments

The Oyo State government has set up a surveillance system in all local government areas following an outbreak of Lassa fever in the Iwajowa area of the state.

According to the state’s commissioner for health, Dr. Bode Ladipo, in a statement released to Journalists on Monday, the outbreak occurred in a Fulani settlement called Gaa Agbaruru in Iwajowa and two deaths have been recorded so far.

The statement read in part: “The attention of the Ministry was drawn to reported cases of deaths at Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State on Wednesday, 12th January, 2022. The deaths were said to have been associated with fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and some neck swelling.

“This warranted a high-level investigating team led by the Honourable Commissioner for Health to visit the LGA on Thursday, 13th January, 2022 to assess the situation and provide necessary support to abate any further transmission of the illness.

“The team was composed of senior officials of the Ministry, the State Primary Healthcare Board and the World Health Organization (WHO).

“An initial visit to the State General Hospital at Iwere lle revealed the fact that there was an increase in the number of cases brought from the Gaa Agbaruru settlement with confirmation of two (2) deaths at the facility. The team was then led to Gaa Agbaruru, a Fulani settlement in Iwere ward of the LGA where the victims of the illness came from.

“It was observed that there were cases with symptoms mentioned above but were recuperating. It was also confirmed that there was indeed a high degree of contact between the inhabitants, rodents and bats. In addition, the challenge of having potable water was noted.

“Blood samples were taken from the recuperating individuals with samples of water also taken. These samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Haemorrhagic Fever in Abuja for analysis and confirmation.

The result of the investigation from the Reference Laboratory was received today, 17th January, 2022 with two (2) of the ten (10) samples testing positive for Lassa Fever.”

Dr. Ladipo however allayed the fears of residents of the state, disclosing that the government has already set up surveillance systems across LGAs in the state to curtail further spread of the virus.

He further explained that the Ministry of Health has repositioned doses of antiviral agents for treatment of the reported cases, adding that personal protective devices had been provided for health care providers at Iwere Ile and Iganna.

He, therefore, enjoined the general public to refer similar cases to nearest government hospitals for free and quality care.