NIGERIA – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated the national multisectoral Emergency Operations Centre for Lassa Fever to coordinate and strengthen ongoing response activities in the country.
This is even as it disclosed that the number of Lassa fever confirmed cases has risen to 244 with 37 deaths.
The Lassa fever Emergency Operations Centre was activated following the outcome of a risk assessment that placed Nigeria at a very high risk of increased Lassa fever transmission.
The assessment showed an unprecedented upward trend in the number of confirmed cases being reported compared to previous years, an increased number of states reporting cases in comparison to previous years, and an increased risk of healthcare worker infections and deaths due to Lassa fever infection.
In a press statement signed by the Director General of the NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said the purpose of the activation of the EOC was to achieve a coordinated national response and especially across the affected states to interrupt disease transmission, reduce the impact of the disease by reducing suffering and death, and other socioeconomic complications of this disease.
“The LF-EOC was activated following a risk assessment carried out on January 20, 2023, by subject matter experts from the NCDC, relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, stakeholders, and major partners. The outcome of the risk assessment placed the country at a very high risk of increased Lassa fever transmission,” read part of the statement.
“Infection and death among the healthcare workers accounted for five and one of the confirmed cases and deaths respectively highlighting the need for an increased index of suspicion among healthcare workers.”
It noted that before the activation of EOC, the Nigerian government through the NCDC’s multisectoral Lassa Fever Technical Working Group had put measures in place to respond to the rising cases of Lassa fever.
It added that the government had repositioned medicines and commodities to support Lassa fever response management, deployed the national rapid response teams to hotspot states to support contact tracing, case management, risk communication, and community engagement, among others.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. The natural reservoir for the virus is the Mastomys natalensis rodent (commonly known as the multimammate rat or the African rat). Other rodents can also be carriers of the virus.
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