RETURN OF LASSA FEVER
The authorities could do more to stem the scourge
Going by the latest report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease, is again on the rampage. In 2022, the disease killed189 Nigerians from 27 states, while about 150 died from it in 2023. In the first six weeks of 2024, Lassa fever has claimed 72 lives across 21 states with 65 per cent of the confirmed cases from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi States. It is obvious that health authorities and other stakeholders are not paying adequate attention to containing the deadly disease.
Lassa fever has been a serious health challenge in Nigeria since it was first diagnosed in Lassa (the village for which it was named) in Borno State in 1969. It is a viral disease typically transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, saliva, faeces and blood of rodents, particularly during the dry season. The disease causes serious damage to various organs, reducing the body’s ability to function. According to NCDC, the predominant age group affected by Lassa fever is between 21 and 30 years.
Even though there have been efforts in the past to contain the scourge, the country has been witnessing frequent outbreaks in recent years. This, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) could be attributed “to reduced response capacity in surveillance and laboratory testing.” The symptoms, which include fever, sore throat, vomiting, back pain, cough, and general body weakness, usually appear six to 21 days after contact with the virus.
The onset of the disease is often gradual, starting with fever followed by headache. However, because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and non-specific, clinical diagnosis is often difficult, especially early in the course of the disease.
Experts have advised that people should ensure their food (cooked or uncooked) is properly covered while regular handwashing should be adhered to. The bush around the home should also be cleared regularly while windows and doors of houses should be closed especially at night. The public should also be adequately enlightened on the dangers posed by rats in their homes. This should be the responsibility of those in charge of the environment, and information which can deploy the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for a public awareness campaign on the issue.
Against the background of repeated commitments by various stakeholders to prevent a recurrence of this disease, what the current outbreak has shown clearly is that if indeed there have been any preventive strategies, they were ineffectual. We therefore believe that the authorities need to do more if we are to rid the nation of the endemic disease that claims the lives of hundreds of our citizens on an annual basis.
With effective coordination, the disease can be contained quickly before it becomes another national epidemic. But the real challenge is to work towards its total eradication. We hope the authorities will take both preventive and long-term measures this time around so that we do not continue to lose our citizens to the virus that has for decades been an emblem of shame.
