The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has called on healthcare workers to consistently implement standard Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the face of an escalating battle against Lassa fever.
The director-general of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa emphasised the critical role of IPC in the clinical management of Lassa fever during an interview with Science Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
Adetifa underscored the importance of a high index of suspicion among healthcare workers, especially when individuals do not respond to standard anti-malaria treatment and other common infectious causes of fever within 48-72 hours. The call comes as Lassa fever cases witnessed an increase in the first week of 2024, affecting nine states with a lower case fatality rate (CFR).
“In week 1, the number of new confirmed cases increased from 43 in epi week 52, 2023, to 53 in epi week 1, 2024. These were reported in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Plateau states,” Adetifa explained.
Despite the rise in confirmed cases, the CFR stands at 11.3 per cent, notably lower than the 27.6 per cent recorded in the same period in 2023. The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years, with a male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases at 1:0.9. Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi account for 71 per cent of confirmed cases, with Ondo reporting 25 per cent, Edo 25 per cent and Bauchi 21 per cent.
Adetifa pointed out that suspected cases have also increased compared to the previous year, with two healthcare workers affected in the first week of 2024. In response to the surge, the National Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centre has been activated, adopting a multi-partner, multi-sectoral approach to coordinate response activities across all levels.
The director-general highlighted the ongoing response activities, including the treatment of confirmed cases at identified centres, dissemination of revised case management and safe burial guidelines, nationwide diagnosis of samples in Lassa fever testing laboratories, and a preparedness survey in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He also mentioned the hosting of the first Lassa Fever webinar in 2024, focusing on “Empowering Communities to Combat Lassa Fever.”
Adetifa disclosed that a meeting with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) aimed to enhance research activities during outbreaks and peacetime. The response efforts encompass off-site support on IPC and safe burials provided to affected states, monitoring of composite indicators to guide emergency actions, and activation of Incident Management Systems and multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Operation Centres at national and some affected state levels.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist, including late case presentations leading to a higher CFR than the national target, poor health-seeking behaviour due to the high cost of treatment, and inadequate environmental sanitation conditions in high-burden communities.
Adetifa stressed the need for heightened vigilance and coordinated efforts to effectively address the evolving situation and enhance public awareness in affected communities.
