Three killed by Lassa fever in Kano, 292 on watch list

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Lassa fever death toll hits 144 nationwide- NCDC




Death toll from the latest round of Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has risen to 144, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Its Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was put at 16.8 per cent.
The NCDC explained that it is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2019’s 23.3 per cent, which highlights improved levels of detection and case management for Lassa fever across the country.

NCDC’s Director General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, while giving an update on the disease, told reporters that in Week 10, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 85 cases in Week Nine in 2020 to 81 cases.

He added that these were reported in 15 states of Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Enugu, Adamawa, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi.

The NCDC DG further said that as for the total in 2020, 27 states had recorded at least one confirmed case across 119 local government areas.

According to him, of all confirmed cases, 74 per cent are from Edo (34 per cent), Ondo (33 per cent) and Ebonyi (seven per cent).

The DG noted that the number of suspected cases had significantly increased compared to those reported within the same period in 2019, also that NCDC had rapidly scaled up its preparedness and response for Lassa fever outbreak across the country.

According to him, the Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.

The NCDC boss further noted that person-to-person transmission, through contact with body fluids, such as semen, urine and blood, could also occur, particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures.

He advised health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for the disease.

“If a patient does not respond to treatment for malaria or other febrile illnesses after 48 hours, it is important to immediately test for Lassa fever,” he said.

Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Idi-Araba, Lagos, said the Lassa fever index patient had been discharged from the isolation ward.
Further more, the Lagos State government promised to begin eight weeks extermination of rats and fumigation of 27 model colleges with hostel facilities, abattoirs/slaughter houses, produce and regular markets against Lassa fever.

[Edoman]

Lassa fever death toll in Nigeria increases to 161 amid coronavirus cases







The death toll of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria has increased to 161, just after 5 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the country. 
 
A new data released by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that a total of 3,735 suspected cases with 906 confirmed cases (11 probable) and 161 deaths have so far been reported in 123 local government areas in 27 states. The new figures represents the total cases from the beginning of the year till March 15.
 
At the same period in 2019, a total of 1801 suspected cases with 495 confirmed cases and 114 deaths were reported in 73 local government areas in 21 states.
 




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[Edoman]

Lassa fever death toll in Nigeria rises to 185







The Lassa Fever death toll has risen to 185 in Nigeria amid the fight against Coronavirus outbreak in the country. 
 
In a new report shared by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on its Twitter handle on Thursday April 2, it was gathered that the number of newly confirmed cases decreased from 28 in week 12 to 19 cases in week 13, which is the reporting week. 
 

 
These cases were reported from eight states – Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau, Kogi, and Delta.
 
A total of 185 people have died of Lassa fever with 951 cases confirmed in the country since the beginning of the year 2020. As of last week, the number of deaths from the fever was 176, meaning nine people died from it within the week.
 

 
The five states with the highest number of confirmed cases are Edo with 309 confirmed cases and 39 deaths; Ondo, 305 confirmed cases and 43 deaths; Ebonyi with 72 cases and 15 deaths; Taraba with 55 cases and 21 deaths and Bauchi with 42 cases and 18 deaths.

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[Edoman]

19 people die of Lassa fever in Bauchi, says Bauchi Govt.
April 16, 2020

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The Bauchi State Government says 19 people have lost their lives to Lassa fever in the state since January.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Baba Tela, who is also the Chairman, Bauchi State Task Force Committee on COVID-19 and Lassa Fever, disclosed this at a news conference in Bauchi on Thursday.

Tela also revealed that no fewer than 48 people were being monitored and undergoing treatment on the deadly disease in the state.

“It is not as if we have gotten rid of Lassa fever completely in the state.

“No! We have not.

“So far as of week 14 of our campaign, the total number of deaths to Lassa fever is 19 and we don’t have any new case so far.

“We are also following up contacts of about 48 persons.

“Those 48 have been confirmed and are under medication and they are recovering very well,” Tela said.

The deputy governor further urged residents to always report any suspected case of Lassa fever in the state as early diagnosis and treatment could help patients recover.

He said that the state government would embark on a massive sensitisation of the public to the nature of the disease.

He said that in the course of sensitisation, the masses wouls be educated on what to do and what to abstain from.

“The most important thing again on the issue of Lassa fever is public awareness and that is what we are trying to do – telling the people what to do and what not to do.

“For example, we have been educating people not to touch the body of a relative who dies of the disease because one can get infected by touching the body.

“We understand the pain of losing someone dear to you but people would say the last thing they would do for them is to wash them up in Islamic way and bury them.

“But even doing that is creating more health hazard.

“That is what we have been trying to inform people that they should try as long as the death is from Lassa fever, to quickly inform the authority so that something can be done about it,” the deputy governor advised.

According to him, the state government has released N25 million as part of efforts targeted toward fighting Lassa fever in the state. (NAN)

[Edoman]

Health workers in FMC Bauchi beg for protection as they are made to work without PPE even after two doctors died after exposure to Lassa Fever 









Healthcare workers at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Azare, Bauchi State, are worried for their lives after the COVID-19 treatment centre was set up there even after two doctors died following exposure to Lassa Fever patients.

 

The healthcare workers there say they are not provided with PPE to keep them safe while treating patients. When they ask for Personal Protective Equipments, they are usually turned down and are expected to be mute about it, journalist Fisayo Soyombo reports.

 

Recently, two doctors died at the institution three weeks apart after they were exposed to Lassa Fever patients.

 

Now, a COVID-19 isolation centre has been set up and the same staff are expected to treat Coronavirus patients but they are apprehensive and fear for their lives.

 



 

 In addition to that, the state of the centre leaves little to be desired.

 



 

Soyombo shared photos of the isolation centre, writing: "At Federal medical centre (FMC) Azare, Bauchi State, two healthcare workers recently died three weeks apart after exposure to Lassa Fever patients. 

 

"Why? Most healthcare workers at this hospital are turned back when they request for PPEs before attending to patients.

 

"Now that a COVID-19 isolation centre has been set up there, staff are apprehensive.

 



 

"They know they won’t get PPE as usual. And the management wants them to be mute.

 

"By the way, here’s what the hospital’s Lassa Fever isolation ward looks like. 

 

"FMC Azare staff are asking FG for help; they’re not afraid to treat COVID-19 patients but they want PPE. They want protection."

 




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