The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has attributed the rise in deaths from Lassa fever to delays in seeking medical attention by infected people.
The NCDC, in its latest disease situation report, said late reporting of cases is leading to an increase in the case fatality rate of Lassa fever.
The report, released Wednesday, also linked the rise in deaths to poor care-seeking behaviour across the country, a result of what it described as the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever.
The report reads in part: “Late presentation of cases leads to an increased case fatality rate. Unfavorable behavior to seek medical care due to the high cost of treatment and clinical management of Lassa fever and poor environmental sanitation conditions observed in communities with higher incidence.”
He added that little awareness has been observed in communities with the highest disease burden.
Lassa fever
Lassa fever, a disease also known as Lassa hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or feces.
The disease is endemic in West Africa, including Nigeria, where the Mastomys rat, a species of rat that is a natural carrier of the virus, is very common.
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New cases
Nigeria has reported 170 deaths related to Lassa fever between January and September 2024.
The NCDC puts the disease's fatality rate for this year at 16.9 percent, the same as that recorded in the same period in 2023.
In its recent situation report, the agency revealed that 115 suspected cases of the disease were reported last week in Edo, Ondo and Enugu states, of which five cases were confirmed and one death was recorded.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases from 1,000 to 1,005 and the death toll from 169 to 170. Currently, 8,251 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been recorded.
According to NCDC, 67 percent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases reported are from Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states, while the remaining 33 percent are from 25 states.
“The age group predominantly affected is 31 to 40 years old. In addition, the number of suspected cases increased compared to what was reported in the same period in 2023,” the report states.
WHO advice
Although Lassa fever is considered endemic in West Africa, the World Health Organization said regional and global risks are considered low because the main mode of transmission is primarily zoonotic, meaning that human-to-human transmission of the disease is low.
The WHO said prevention of Lassa fever focuses on promoting strong community hygiene to prevent rodents from entering homes.
It suggests that key measures include storing food such as grains in rodent-proof containers, properly disposing of waste away from living areas and maintaining cleanliness at home.
The WHO also suggested keeping cats to help control rodent populations.
In healthcare settings, WHO said, staff should always adhere to standard infection prevention protocols.
According to the global health body, these protocols include practicing proper respiratory and hand hygiene, using personal protective equipment to avoid exposure to contaminated materials, ensuring injection safety and adhering to guidelines for safe handling of the deceased.