BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
In a bid to strengthen response mechanism, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated the national multisectoral Emergency Operations Centre for Lassa Fever (LF-EOC).
This was done through the National Lassa Fever Technical Working Group (LF-TWG), aimed at reducing the increasing cases of the infectious disease in the country.
The LF-EOC activation resulted from a risk assessment conducted by experts from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA's) stakeholders and major partners.
Director-General of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said on Thursday in Abuja that the outcome of the risk assessment placed Nigeria as high-risk country with lassa fever transmission.
This, he attributed to increased number of states reporting cases, high case fatality in confirmed cases, low index of suspicion among health care workers, healthcare worker infections and deaths, and continued attrition of essential healthcare.
"In 2023, a rise in the number of cases was reported from week 49 and associated healthcare workers infection over a period of three weeks.
"The upsurge indicated an early peak into the high transmission season nationally, although, this is usually seen from January to May annually.
"Cumulatively, 9155 suspected cases were recorded, with 1270 confirmed cases and 227 deaths," he said.
Adetifa disclosed that Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 17.9 percent were reported in 2023 across the 28 states and 124 Local Government Areas, adding that the disease is increasing at an alarming rate, with risk of international exposures.
But situation report as of January 7, 2023 in comparison to January 7, 2024, indicated that the total confirmed cases was between 29 and 53, while fatalities reduced from eight to six.
The CFR also stood at 27.6 to 11.3 percent within the years under review while states with cases of lassa fever increased from six to nine.
For the Local Government Areas, it was 13 to 27. The affected states so far are Ondo (13), Edo (13), Bauchi (11), Benue (6), Taraba (6), and one each from Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Plateau States.
State-level Preparation
The director general said that prior to the activation of EOC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the NCDC had alerted states to guide state-level preparedness, readiness, and response activities for lassa fever in preparation for the season.
He noted that the agency held biweekly National LF-TWG meetings to improve preparedness, readiness and response activities for control and management of lassa fever using a One Health approach.
Adetifa hinted that NCDC conducted capacity building for selected healthcare workers across the six geopolitical zones through the pilot lassa fever clinical management fellowship.
"We also held bi-weekly lassa fever webinar series on topics covering case management, surveillance, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), risk communication and community engagement, and logistics to get all actors in the management of lassa fever ready for the predicted surge in confirmed case numbers.
"Prepositioned and distributed medical supplies for case management, infection prevention, and control and laboratory diagnosis in all lassa fever treatment centres in the country.
"Updated the national Incident Action Plan (IAP) to take on board lessons from the last outbreak and findings from the recently concluded surge preparedness workshop.
"Published weekly situation reports for lassa fever in Nigeria to guide decision-making and foster further collaboration across different sectors," he said.
Plea For Support
The DG disclosed that the LF-EOC activation would coordinate a national response particularly across the affected states to help minimise suffering, reduce mortality, interrupt disease transmission, and address socio-economic complications caused by lassa fever using a one health approach.
He informed that the national response required the participation of the government and all Nigerians alongside support from partners and other stakeholders.
Adetifa revealed that NCDC is mandated to lead the prevention, preparedness, and response to public health emergencies in collaboration with the states, who were tasked to develop and implement evidence-driven outbreak response plans for their territories.
He said that the public have collective responsibility to maintain personal and environmental hygiene as well as food hygiene in the fight against lassa fever.
The DG encouraged the public and healthcare workers to remain vigilant, saying that early detection and immediate presentation at health facilities increase survival chances.
Adetifa assured that NCDC remains dedicated to safeguarding the health of Nigerians and is actively working towards reducing the fatality rate to a single digit.
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