Death toll from Lassa fever rises to 21

Chikwe Ihekweazu, national coordinator, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says 21 deaths have been recorded from the 77 confirmed cases in the current outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.

Ihekweazu disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the national executive council meeting of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said 10 of the 77 confirmed cases, were health workers.

As of the last time the NCDC gave an update on the latest outbreak of the disease, 16 persons were reported dead.

The national coordinator quoted Sylvanus Okogbeni, chief medical director, Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo, as confirming that two of the health workers affected were discharged on Monday.

He described the situation as sober, adding that it had resulted in serious emotional trauma, fear, anxiety and sometimes anger among stakeholders.

Ihekweazu said it was high time stakeholders came together and addressed the challenges of hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever.

The national coordinator said NCDC has distributed more Ribavirin drugs used in the treatment of the disease to the affected states than it had ever done in the past.

He said government alone might not be able to supply the needed drugs to all the affected persons in the country.

Ihekweazu said the center had produced guidelines for the prevention and control of hemorrhagic fevers, adding that the NARD members should work with their hospitals’ chief medical directors to address outbreaks.

Lassa fever is a viral infection caused by the Lassa fever virus and the disease occurs all year round but more cases are recorded during the dry season.

It is spread through direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats, eating food or drinking contaminated water.

The disease can be prevented through enhance personal hygiene, avoidance of all contact with rats (dead or alive) and keeping the house and surrounding clean always.