Nigeria reports rise in Lassa fever cases/deaths in 2023
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a 16 percent increase in confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2023, according to the latest published data.
Through December 24, the NCDC reported 8,978 suspected, 13 probable and 1,227 confirmed Lassa fever cases, up from 8,130 suspected, 37 probable and 1,055 confirmed cases reported during the same period in 2022.
In addition, the Lassa death toll has increased (216) from 2022 when 189 fatalities were reported.
In total for 2023, 28 of the country’s 36 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 121 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Seventy-seven (77%) of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 23% were reported from 25 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.
Emerging Pathogens: A Look Toward 2024
In mid-December, the NCDC issued a Lassa fever Public Health Advisory. Lassa fever occurs throughout the year, but more cases are recorded during the dry season i.e. November through May in Nigeria.
Now that the dry season is here, the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Technical Working Group (TWG) has implemented strategic measures to enhance coordination, collaboration, and communication, enhancing preparedness and readiness for potential surges in Lassa fever cases.
Lassa Fever is an acute viral illness and a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). The causative agent is a single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus in the family arenaviridae, the Lassa virus. This zoonotic disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality, transmitted by the multi-mammate rat (mastomys natalensis), one of the most common rats in equatorial Africa.
The virus spreads through:
• Direct contact with urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
• Contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with the urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
• Consuming food or water contaminated with the urine, feces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
• Person-to-person transmission can also occur through direct contact with blood, urine, feces, vomitus, and other body fluids of an infected person.
Lassa fever initially presents like other common illnesses accompanied by a fever, such as malaria. Other symptoms include headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pains, chest pain, sore throat, and, in severe cases, bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings. The time between infection and the appearance of symptoms of the disease is 3 to 21 days. Early diagnosis and treatment of the diseases greatly increase the chances of patient survival.
People most at risk for Lassa fever are:
• People of all age groups who come in contact with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
• People living in rat-infested environments.
• People who consume potentially contaminated foodstuff, especially those left open overnight or dried outside in the open.
• People who handle or process rodents for consumption.
• People who do not perform hand hygiene at appropriate times.
• Caretakers of infected persons with poor infection prevention and control measures.
The disease was first discovered in a town called Lassa in Borno State, Nigeria in 1969.
