Nigeria: 2019 Lassa Fever

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.who.int/csr/don/14-febru...er-nigeria/en/
Lassa Fever ? Nigeria

Disease outbreak news
14 February 2019

From 1 January through 10 February 2019, 327 cases of Lassa fever (324 confirmed cases and three probable cases) with 72 deaths (case fatality ratio = 22%) have been reported across 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the majority of cases being reported from Edo (108) and Ondo (103) states. Twelve cases have been reported among healthcare workers in seven states ? Edo (4), Ondo (3), Ebonyi (1), Enugu (1), Rivers (1), Bauchi (1) and Benue (1) including one death in Enugu.
The number of confirmed cases reported across Nigeria remains high. In week 6, 2019 (week ending 10 February 2019), 37 new confirmed cases including 10 deaths (case fatality ratio = 27%) were reported from nine states across Nigeria. The majority of cases were reported from Ondo (12) and Edo (10) states. The number of confirmed cases reported in week 6, 2019 represents a slight decrease compared to week 5 when 68 confirmed cases were reported (Figure 1).
Of the 3746 contacts identified since January 2019, 2658 are still under follow-up while 1045 have completed 21 days of follow-up. Sixty contacts became symptomatic, of which 39 tested positive.
Ninety-one case-patients are currently in admission at treatment centers across the country. The case-patients are being treated with standard supportive care.
Figure 1: Number of confirmed and probable Lassa fever cases in Nigeria reported by the week of illness onset from 1 January through 10 February 2019




Source: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
Public health response

• On 22 January 2019, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) declared the outbreak an emergency.
• Multi-sectoral One Health national rapid response teams have been deployed to Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Bauchi to support field investigation and response activities.
• Enhanced surveillance is ongoing in all states following alert communication and a press release from NCDC.
• Treatment of Lassa fever cases is also ongoing at designated treatment centres across the country.
• Risk communication and community engagement activities continue in the states. National awareness was improved through the recently concluded international Lassa fever conference which took place from 16 through 17 January 2019.

WHO risk assessment

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever that is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur. The overall case fatality rate is 1%; it is 15% among patients hospitalized with severe illness. There is currently no approved vaccine. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.
Although Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Nigeria with the peak season anticipated from December through June, the current increase in new confirmed cases and deaths should be monitored closely and addressed appropriately. Cases in neigbouring Benin and Togo potentially originating from Nigeria have been reported in previous years and therefore neighbouring countries should be monitored accordingly.
With twelve confirmed cases so far among healthcare workers, there is evidence of nosocomial transmission of the disease amidst reports of inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) supplied in some health facilities and complacency on the part of health workers towards maintaining IPC measures.
WHO advice

Prevention of Lassa fever relies on community engagement and promoting hygienic conditions to discourage rodents from entering homes. In healthcare settings, staff should consistently implement standard infection prevention and control measures when caring for patients to prevent nosocomial infections. WHO continues to advice all countries in the Lassa fever belt on the need to enhance early detection and treatment of cases to reduce the case fatality rate as well as strengthen cross-border collaboration.
WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restriction to Nigeria based on the currently available information.
For more information on Lassa fever, please see the link below:

• WHO fact sheet on Lassa fever

[Shiloh]

Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/lassa-f...ree-in-ebonyi/


Lassa Fever kills three in Ebonyi
by Ogochukwu Anioke
February 18, 2019

Three persons of the 19 confirmed cases of Lassa Fever in Ebonyi State have died. Fourteen were treated and discharged at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA) this year.

Commissioner for Health Dr. Daniel Umezuruike stated this during a public health advisory workshop organised by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Abakaliki.

According to him, the disease ravaged eight of the 13 councils, including Abakaliki, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ohaozara, Ebonyi, Izz, Afikpo North and Ikwo.

He said: ?Recent genomic sequencing of the Lassa Fever virus in Nigeria shows rodent to human transmission is still the main source of infection. Therefore, environmental sanitation, especially rodent control, is critical to curtailing the spread...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://leadership.ng/2019/02/21/nig...f-lassa-fever/

Nigeria Records 37 New Cases Of Lassa Fever
Published 1 min ago on February 21, 2019
By PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA Abuja

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that 37 new confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been reported in nine states with 10 new deaths in four states.
The states, according to NCDC are Edo 10, Ondo 12, Ebonyi 4, Plateau 4, Taraba 3, Benue 1, Gombe 1, Rivers 1, and Kebbi 1.
The centre said the 10 new deaths were recorded in Edo 2, Ondo 2, Ebonyi 4 and Plateau 2.
According to its weekly report (week 06), ?from 1st January to 10th February 2019, a total of 947 suspected cases have been reported from 20 states and the FCT. Of these, 324 were confirmed positive, three probable and 620 negative (not a case). ?Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 69 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 21.3 per cent...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://plustvafrica.com/news/lassa-...ed-in-plateau/

Lassa fever: 10 killed, 28 new cases confirmed in Plateau
5 hours ago
Web Admin

Dr Kunden Deyin, the Plateau Commissioner for Health says the state has recorded twenty-eight new cases of Lassa fever with ten deaths.

The Commissioner said sixty-four cases were taken to the laboratory for confirmation out of which twenty-eight were confirmed to be Lassa fever.

He said that one of the confirmed cases was imported from Kaduna State, adding that most of the affected persons are responding to treatments...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.concisenews.global/2019/...ver-in-8-days/


NCDC Records 25 New Cases Of Lassa Fever In 8 days
By
Jesuwale Stephen -
February 22, 2019


Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it recorded 25 new cases of Lassa fever between Feb.11 and Feb. 17 across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known on Friday in Abuja.
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Ihekweazu said that the 25 new cases brought the number of confirmed cases to 355 out of 1,139 suspected cases recorded since Jan. 1 in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said under the reporting week 07 that out of the total cases, three were probably while 781 tested negative.

He said that a total of 75 deaths had been recorded since the onset of the outbreak...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://punchng.com/ncdc-reports-dec...es-nationwide/


NCDC reports decline in Lassa fever cases nationwide
Published February 27, 2019
Dayo Ojerinde

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has reported a decline in the number of Lassa fever cases across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this in a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday.

Ihekweazu attributed the decline to the intensive response to the outbreak of the disease, which was announced on January 21, 2019.

He said that since the beginning of the outbreak, the NCDC had activated an Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate response activities.

The NCDC boss said, ?As of February 17, 2019, 25 new confirmed cases of Lassa fever were reported, making it a total of 355 confirmed cases with 75 deaths from 20 states across 57 Local Government Areas in the country. Over the past three weeks, there has been a downward trend in new cases.

?Despite the reduction in new cases, response activities are being intensified at the national and state level. Rapid Response Teams, which include colleagues from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Federal Ministry of Environment, are supporting the response in Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Plateau and Bauchi States.?...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://nigeriatoday.ng/health/ondo-...wo-months-nma/


Ondo records 102 Lassa fever cases, 15 deaths in two months ? NMA
8 hours ago
Agency Report

No fewer than 102 people have been confirmed to be positive with Lassa fever, in addition to 15 deaths recorded in Ondo State between January and February.

Wale Oke, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Akure.

?As at Thursday, February 21, 102 people have been tested positive to Lassa fever this year.

?82 people in January and 20 people so far in February apart from 15 deaths recorded in January as a result of the fever but no death has been recorded so far in February.

?Most people that died either reported late or were already subjected to alternative treatment and doing self-medication before they eventually came to the hospital.

?Their kidneys and livers had been affected as a result of the delay,? he said.

Mr Oke, who is also a staff member at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, urged residents of the state to report early to the medical centre if they experienced an upsurge of temperature in their bodies...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.nan.ng/health/lassa-feve...ed-in-nigeria/


Lassa Fever: 23 new cases confirmed in Nigeria
6 hours ago
By Jessica Onyegbula

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 23 new cases of Lassa fever that were recorded between Feb. 18 and Feb. 24.

NCDC?s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Ihekweazu said that 1,279 suspected cases had been reported from 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from Jan. 1 to Feb. 24, 2019.

He said that 381 of this figure were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 858 negative.

According to him, from the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 83 deaths in confirmed cases.
Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 21.8 per cent, he said.

The CEO said that Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River, had recorded at least one confirmed case in 66 local government areas.

He, however, noted that in reporting week 08, two new health workers were affected in Edo...

[Ronan Kelly]

Lassa fever: Death toll hits 93 in Nigeria
Published March 8, 2019


Dayo Ojerinde

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said the death toll from the Lassa fever outbreak in 2019 has increased to 93 in the country.



In its weekly situation report, the NCDC stated that 1,374 suspected cases and 93 deaths were reported across 21 states, including the Federal Capital Territory as of March 3, 2019.



Between February 25 and March 3, 2019, 39 newly confirmed cases were reported from six states with eight new deaths in Edo, Ondo, and Kogi states.

The Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said there had been a rise in the number of new cases this week compared to the last four weeks.
...

https://punchng.com/lassa-fever-death-toll-hits-93-in-nigeria/

TITLE:
2019 LASSA FEVER OUTBREAK SITUATION REPORT SERIAL NUMBER:
09 EPI-WEEK:
09 DATE:
3rd March 2019

HIGHLIGHTS
 In the reporting Week 09 (25th February -3rd March, 2019) thirty nine new confirmed cases were reported from six states - Edo(20), Ondo(12), Ebonyi (2), Bauchi(2), Taraba(2) and Kogi (1) with eight new deaths in Edo (5), Ondo(2) and Kogi(1)
 From 1st January to 3rd March, 2019, a total of 1374 suspected cases have been reported from states that have recorded at least one confirmed case (21 States including FCT). Of these, 420 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 939 negative (not a case)-Table 1. Overall, 33 States including FCT have reported a total 1447 suspected cases -Figure 1
 Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 93*deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 22.1%
 Twenty-one States (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 66 Local Government Areas- Figure 1
 In the reporting week 09, no new health care worker was affected. A total of fifteen health care workers have been infected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states ? Edo (7), Ondo (3), Ebonyi (1), Enugu (1), Rivers (1), Bauchi (1) and Benue (1) with one death in Enugu
 Sixty-nine patients are currently being managed at various treatment centres across the country: Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital(ISTH) treatment Centre (34), Federal Medical Centre Owo (16), Federal Teaching Hospital Abakiliki (2), Bauchi (2), Plateau (5) and Taraba (7), Gombe (1), Kaduna (1) and Kebbi (1)
 A total of 4902 contacts have been identified from 19 States. Of these 1926 (39.3%) are currently being followed up, 2923 (58.6%) have completed 21 days follow up, while 4(0.1%) were lost to follow up. 80(1.6%) symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 49 (1.0%) have tested positive
 Multi sectoral one health national rapid response teams (NCDC, NFELTP, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Federal Ministry of Environment) deployed to Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi and Taraba
 National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre(EOC) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels
...

https://ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/files/sitreps/b1f8ce34f8b499f859b3bcdadcd90c4c.pdf

Archive Page: https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps...20in%20Nigeria

[Shiloh]

Source: https://punchng.com/1447-cases-recor...-to-33-states/

1,447 cases recorded as Lassa fever spreads to 33 states
Published March 10, 2019
OLUFEMI ATOYEBI

The National Centre for Disease Control has said a total of 1,447 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been reported in 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, since the outbreak of the disease this year.

The centre also said since the outbreak, there had been 93 deaths, with case fatality ratio in the confirmed cases put at 22.1 per cent.

The latest report of the agency on the spread of the disease showed that 20 states, together with the FCT, had recorded at least one confirmed case across 66 local government areas.

According to the report, the affected states are Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna and Kwara.

Others are Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River states with the FCT.

The Incident Manager, National Emergency Operation Centre, Ms Chioma Dan-Nwafor, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that the Federal Government in its effort to curb the disease had established treatment centres in the states where the disease was prevalent across the country...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/lass...n-2019/ce35qkp


Lassa fever: NCDC registers 83 death, 381 confirmed cases in 2019
Today at 5:38 PM
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has registered 83 deaths, 381 confirmed cases and 1,279 suspected cases of Lassa fever in 2019

Dr Kola Jinadu, Senior Technical Adviser to the NCDC Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Tuesday.

He was speaking at a health journalism masterclass organised by NIGERIA HEALTHWATCH, a non-governmental organisation.

The senior technical adviser said the centre also has 12 probable cases, adding that the cases cut across 21 states of the country....

[Shiloh]

Source: https://theeagleonline.com.ng/ncdc-c...in-six-states/



NCDC confirms 15 new cases of Lassa Fever in six states
by The Eagle Online
March 30, 2019


The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Saturday has confirmed 15 new cases of Lassa fever from six states in Nigeria.
The Chief Executive Officer of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who made this known on Saturday in Abuja said that the 15 new cases brought the number of confirmed cases to 510 out of the 1,924 suspected cases since January 1 in 21 states.

He also said that a total of 119 deaths had been recorded since the onset of the outbreak.
Ihekweazu said Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River states each recorded at least one confirmed case.

He noted that no new health worker was affected, adding that a total of 16 healthcare workers had so far been affected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states.
The NCDC boss said 32 patients were hospitalised at the designated centres.
He said that 13 were hospitalised in Irrua, 9 in Owo, three in Abakiliki, three in Bauchi, three in Plateau, two in Taraba.

Ihekweazu also said that a total of 6320 people suspected to have contacts with those infected had been identified across 20 states.
He said that 1,567 of the suspected contacts were being followed while 4,690 had completed the mandatory 21 days of follow up to be sure they show no symptoms.
He also said 110 symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 55 tested positive...

[Ronan Kelly]

TITLE: 2019 LASSA FEVER OUTBREAK SITUATION REPORT SERIAL NUMBER: 12 EPI-WEEK: 12 DATE: 24th March 2019


HIGHLIGHTS
 In the reporting Week 12 (18th - 24th March, 2019) 15 new confirmedi cases were reported from six states - Edo(4), Ondo(3), Plateau(2), Bauchi(3), Taraba(2) and Ebonyi(1) with five new deaths in Edo(2), Ondo(2) and Bauchi (1) states
 From 1st January to 24th March, 2019, a total of 1924 suspectedi cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 510 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1511 negative (not a case)
 Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 117 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 22.9%
 Twenty-one (21) States (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 74 Local Government Areas- Figure 1
 In the reporting week 12, no new health care worker was affected. A total of sixteen health care workers have been infected since the onset of the outbreak in seven States ? Edo (7), Ondo (3), Ebonyi (2), Enugu (1), Rivers (1), Bauchi (1) and Benue (1) with two deaths in Enugu and Edo States
 Thirty-two (32) patients are currently being managed at various treatment centres across the country: Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital(ISTH) treatment Centre (13), Federal Medical Centre Owo (9), Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (3), Bauchi(2), Plateau (3) and Taraba (2)
 A total of 6320 contacts have been identified from 20 States. Of these 1567 (24.8%) are currently being followed up, 4690 (74.2%) have completed 21 days follow up, while 8(0.1%) were lost to follow up. 110(1.7%) symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 55 (1.0%) have tested positive
 Multi sectoral one health national rapid response teams (NCDC, NFELTP, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Federal Ministry of Environment) deployed to Taraba and Bauchi states
 National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre(EOC) continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels


...

https://ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/files/sitreps/162d8ebd45f852845a2ba11fa196c517.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

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https://ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/files/sitreps/63fad1ba5d86869a2a386e46b9bd7865.pdf

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.ph...n-five-states/


16 New Cases of Lassa Fever Confirmed in Five States
April 8, 2019 4:25 am

Sixteen new cases of Lassa fever disease were confirmed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in five states.

A week 13 update provided by the centre at the weekend showed that the new cases were reported in Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba and Plateau States.

This is coming as World Health Organisation (WHO) has sought the application of digital solutions in tackling impediments to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

The NCDC said two new deaths were recorded in Bauchi and Taraba States.

?From January 1 to March 31, 2019, a total of 2034 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 526 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1693 negative (not a case).

?Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 121 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 23 per cent. 21 States ? Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River ? have recorded at least one confirmed case across 81 Local Government Areas,? it said.

The NCDC noted that ?in the reporting week 13, one new health care worker was affected in Plateau State. A total of 17 health care workers have been infected since the onset of the outbreak in seven States, Edo (seven), Ondo (three), Ebonyi (two), Enugu (one), Rivers (one), Bauchi (one) Benue (one) and Plateau (one) with two deaths in Enugu and Edo States?...