According to the health authorities, there have been an astounding 8,542 cases of the sickness this year.
As of December 3, 2023, Naija News understands that of them, 1,170 instances have been confirmed, and regrettably, 200 lives have been lost to this fatal sickness.
Throughout the nation, 114 local government areas and 28 states reported these confirmed cases. Concerns have been aroused by the recent widespread case of Lassa virus, and local populations are demanding an immediate response.
The Death Records: More Than Just Data, Adetifa
The NCDC Director General, Ifedayo Adetifa, stated in a statement that the rise in cases reported can be ascribed to a number of variables, including enhanced monitoring, more community awareness, and the negative effects of climate change.
510 confirmed cases were recorded in 2021, spanning 68 LGAs and 17 states. In contrast, Nigeria recorded 1067 confirmed cases in 112 LGAs and 27 States in 2022. As of December 3, 2023, there had been 8542 suspected cases, 1170 confirmed cases, and 200 deaths (case fatality rate: 17.1%). These figures show that 2023 may see record numbers of cases of Lassa virus. Just in 2023, 28 states and 114 LGAs have reported confirmed cases.
Healthcare workers are also infected and may die during annual outbreaks of Lassa fever. This death is not merely a number; it is the profound loss of a parent, spouse, loved one, and frequently a seasoned healthcare professional and team member.
This makes the problem of the nation’s lack of human resources for health care worse, Adetifa said in the statement.
However, according to the NCDC, the center’s Technical Working Group has put strategic measures into place to enhance coordination, collaboration, and communication, which will increase readiness for any future spikes in Lassa fever cases.
It was mentioned that the Mastomys natalensis rodent acts as the virus’ natural reservoir and that the Lassa virus causes acute viral hemorrhagic fever.
Other rodents may also be infected with the virus in addition to the mentioned one. According to Naija News, the virus can be transmitted by direct contact with the urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats. It can also be disseminated via contaminated objects, household goods, and surfaces.
Transmission of the virus can also occur through the consumption of contaminated food or water.
Additionally, direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids—such as blood, urine, feces, vomit, and others—can result in person-to-person transmission. Lassa fever first exhibits symptoms resembling those of common feverish infections like malaria. Additional symptoms include a headache, weakness throughout the body, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and, in extreme situations, bleeding from the mouth, nose, ears, and eyes.
What You Should Understand
It is important to remember that the Lassa Fever illness has an incubation period of three to 21 days during which no symptoms appear.
On the other hand, the likelihood of patient survival is greatly increased by early discovery and treatment.
The greatest risk of developing Lassa fever is for people of all ages to come into touch with the urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
This includes people who handle or prepare rodents for human consumption, those who live in rat-infested surroundings, and anyone who eat food that may be contaminated—especially if it has been left out overnight or dried outside.
Inadequate infection prevention and control procedures put caregivers of infected persons at danger, as do healthcare personnel and anyone who neglect to practice good hand hygiene.