TACKLING LASSA FEVER/MENINGITIS 

It is shameful that Nigerians are still dying in droves from preventable diseases

Last week revelation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that no fewer than 762 Nigerians died from Lassa Fever and Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) within a period of one year is deeply concerning. Unfortunately, we have not seen any concerted efforts in the affected states to combat these dangerous seasonal diseases that continue to claim the lives of several Nigerians annually. Yet, these preventable diseases should task health authorities in the country. 

Lassa fever has been a serious health challenge in Nigeria since it was first diagnosed in Lassa, Borno State more than five decades ago. But many Nigerians may not be paying attention to the growing fatality rate of this deadly disease that took its name from one of our communities. Even though there were efforts in the past to contain the scourge, our 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, abdominal pain, restlessness, and general body weakness usually appear six to 21 days after contact with the virus.      

Lassa fever is an acute febrile illness which is caused by a virus with an incubation period of between six to 21 days. The onset of the disease is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness, before being followed by headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, cough, and bleeding from mouth, nose, etc. 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. For that reason, steps should be taken by the government, at all levels, to emphasise routine infection prevention and control measures. Healthcare workers should also be advised to always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids in the process of caring for sick persons.     

Meanwhile, Meningitis is an acute inflammation of the protective organs and membranes with layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, loss of consciousness and fever. In most cases, Meningitis becomes intense and widespread during heat period and in areas where there is no ventilation. To reduce the spread of meningitis, NCDC counselled that Nigerians should avoid overcrowding and ensure adequate ventilation and airflow in their homes. Yet, this is another recurring health challenge for which there should have been containment measures. 

A former Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, once lamented that Nigeria usually suffers meningitis “around this time of year when dry season is turning to raining season; in the area called the ‎meningitis belt that ranges all the way from Senegal down to Ethiopia, Eritrea. And the prevailing germ was the Meningococcus A”. The challenge, according to Ehinare, is that there is currently no cross immunisation for the disease. “If you are immune to Type A, it doesn’t make you immune to Type C. And because Type C was very rare, the availability of vaccines has been very meagre relatively,” Ehinare said while explaining the challenge of the health authorities. To make matters worse, the entire West African sub-region has since been declared Meningitis belt, as the disease sweeps across Niger, Togo, Chad, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Cameroun. 

To tackle these preventable diseases, the issue of hygiene should be taken more seriously. And on that score, there is an urgent need for public enlightenment in the country.  We therefore expect a more robust campaign on hygienic environment in view of the dangers of Meningitis and Lassa Fever. But the real challenge is to work towards their total eradication from Nigeria as it has been done in many other countries.

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To tackle these preventable diseases, the issue of hygiene should be taken more seriously. And on that score, there is an urgent need for public enlightenment campaign in the country