On the 26th of January, 2022, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) activated the multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary Lassa Fever Emergency Operations Centres in the country. Confirmed cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria that week stood at 170 and there were a total of 49 deaths from Lassa fever in January.
A total of 293 confirmed cases were reported, while a cumulative number of 981 suspected cases were reported in January.
In just the first month of 2022, the disease has been found in 14 States and 43 local government areas in the country.
The 2022 figures thus far are higher than the 2021 figures of the same time period and according to the NCDC 82% of all confirmed cases are from three states; Ondo (30%), Edo (27%) and Bauchi (25%).
With increasing cases these are key points to remember about Lassa fever.
The World Health Organization noted that Lassa Fever is usually transmitted to humans through food or household items contaminated by faeces or urine of Mastomys rats.
According to the African Centre for Disease Control, the signs to look out for with Lassa Fever are general weaknesses and malaise(a general feeling of discomfort whose cause is hard to identify).
Others such as headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, vomiting, cough, diarrhoea may follow.
The report further states that the disease can lead to deafness or partial deafness.
Person to person transmission and laboratory transmission of the virus can also occur, according to the World Health Organization.
The prevention mechanisms listed included good community hygiene to prevent rodents from entering homes, keeping garbage far from homes, maintaining clean households, respiratory hygiene, use of protective equipment, safe injection practices, are recommended measures to prevent Lassa fever.
The National Centre for Disease Control has also published the Lassa fever management document that helps to understand what to do and how to manage Lassa fever.