Joseph Okoeguale, Medical Doctor and Director of Viral and Emerging Pathogens Control and Research, Irrua Specialist University Hospital, Edo State, said Edo recorded 240 cases of Lassa fever and 21 deaths between December and March this year.
Mr Okoeguale stated this during the first edition of the Faculty of Medical Sciences Lecture Series organized by the Edo State University, Uzairue, on Monday.
Mr. Okoeguale delivered a lecture titled: University Community Collaboration in Lassa Fever Research: Advancing Diagnostic Capacity and Vaccine Development in Nigeria.
He said the WHO had classified Lassa fever as a priority disease for research and development.
“In 2024, between December and the end of March, we recorded 240 positive cases and more than 21 people died, which is quite large.
“We also recorded a large number of cases in 2023, and more than 40 percent of Edo State cases came from Etsako communities,” Okoeguale said.
How to stop the scourge of Lassa fever
Okoeguale, a consultant gynecologist, said the only way to stop the scourge of the disease is through prevention and vaccines.
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“Lassa fever occurs in all age groups and in both men and women.
“For many decades, Lassa fever has continued to cause deaths, undiagnosed and unquestioned.
“The Lassa fever outbreak has continued to occur annually with increasing incidence and increasing geographical extent affecting children, pregnant and non-pregnant adults in Nigeria.
“The annual Lassa fever outbreak has put enormous pressure on all aspects of Nigeria's healthcare system. The response to an outbreak should focus on limiting mortality and reducing the spread of disease.
“This is a Lassa fever endemic community. The only way to put an end to this scourge of disease is through prevention. For the prevention of epidemics, the only tool is vaccination,” said Mr. Okoeguale.
The director noted that the center was designing trials that would help develop new drugs and a vaccine for Lassa fever.
“We have built and equipped an ultra-modern sequencing and clinical trials center, and have begun sequencing not only Lassa fever virus but also COVID-19 and monkeypox virus.
“We have recently received approval from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) to conduct a platform trial of new drugs for Lassa fever.
“We are currently collaborating with the United States Center for Disease Control, George Town and the Nigerian Center for Disease Control to maintain a clinical fellowship program for the clinical management of Lassa fever and other highly infectious diseases.
“This aims to help reduce the mortality and morbidity of Lassa fever in the country and in the West African subregion,” he said.
Urgent need for collaborative efforts
In his opening remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Edo State University, Dawood Egbefo, said Lassa fever remained a major public health challenge in the country.
According to Professor Egbefo, the disease affects countless lives and places a burden on healthcare systems.
He said the conference served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing and partnership to build a robust framework for ongoing research, innovation and intervention that would address Lassa fever and other emerging health threats.
“We can foster innovative solutions that will improve our diagnostic capabilities and pave the way for the development of effective vaccines,” said Mr Egbefo.
Earlier, the acting rector of the institution's Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kenneth Atoe, said the conference became imperative to stimulate research and innovation in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Lassa fever.
“As we know, our host community is unfortunately located within a Lassa fever endemic area.
“This harsh reality underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts to combat Lassa fever and other infectious diseases,” Atoe said.
(YAYA)