Lassa Fever Kills 3 in Bayelsa, Kogi States

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has said that three deaths were recorded in Bayelsa and Kogi States resulting from Lassa Fever infection.

The centre in its weekly epidomological report on Infectious diseases occurrence in the country, said that there are 84 suspected cases of Lassa Fever Infections in both states, with seven confirmed in laboratory test.

NCDC said there were three fatalities from the Lassa Fever infection in five local governments from the two states.

The report also said that there were 19 suspected cases of cholera reported from three LGAs in the two states (Bayelsa – 10 and Kogi – nine).

It explained that one of the cases was laboratory confirmed and that no death was recorded.

Among the measures undertaken by NCDC to address the situation was the conduct of an evaluation to ascertain Lassa fever(LF) high burden states as well as the preparedness/response engagement meetings.

NCDC further said it carried out disemination of reviewed case management and safe burial practices guidelines.

According to the centre, all five LF molecular laboratories in the NCDC network were kept functional at full capacity for timely testing of samples with reduced turnaround time.

The disease control centre said it had in addition, taken measures to check the spread of Cholera disease by activating the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) to monitor all states and supporting affected states.

It has developed the 2021 Annual Cholera preparedness and response workplan, adding that part of the plan is the Cholera jingles being aired in English and local languages across the country.

In addition, the centre said there were 271 suspected cases of measles reported from 73 LGAs in 20 states and FCT. None were laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded

It said that the National Measles surveillance team is closely monitoring measles, keeping the data and providing feedback to relevant agencies and development partners