Medical Expert Seeks Aggressive Campaign on Lassa Fever

By Nafiu Busari

Oyo State has recorded five deaths from 25 confirmed cases and 121 suspected cases of Lassa fever infection between January 2022 and January 5th, 2023.

Director, Primary Health Care, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Bunmi Ayinde stated this at a 4-day review meeting and planning of USAIDS Breakthrough Action Nigeria Programmes. 

She said five health workers were among the persons who died from Lassa fever within the period, wherein 105 cases recovered and 96 were tested for Lassa fever.

Dr Ayinde stated that in January 2023, three suspected Lassa fever cases were recorded, with one turning out positive and dying from the infection.

According to her, the three local government areas with a high risk of Lassa fever in Oyo State were Iwajowa, Kajola and Orelope local government council areas.

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“We have had 121 suspected cases in the last year; suspected cases are those that had symptoms but were not confirmed. Out of those cases that were probably suspected cases, we had a mortality of 10. We had 105 recovered cases and in all, we tested 96 cases. The 96 tested negative for Lassa fever. These were cases between January 2022 and January 5th, 2023,” she said.

Dr Ayinde declared that cases of Lassa fever in the state were from the consumption of contaminated foods with body fluids of infected multimammate rats which tend to occur more during the dry season when these rats come into residential areas looking for food.

According to her, “we have encouraged health care providers to maintain a high index of suspicion and to have an infection prevention control in place when attending to all patients; no matter who the patient is or the case before them.

“If you test a client for malaria and the client is negative, you should have a high suspicion of other possible causes, one of which is a viral hemorrhagic fever.”

Dr Ayinde said Nigerians should keep their edible foods in tightly covered containers, away from rats; maintain a clean environment and avoid self-medication.

In her opening remarks, Oyo State Coordinator for USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Mrs Toyin Afachang urged the media to help increase awareness of Lassa fever, its causes, symptoms and prevention and what to do in suspected cases.

According to her, “USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria is currently supporting the airing of Hausa, Yoruba, Fulfulde and English jingles, targeting communities in a language they can understand.

“What we are doing at this review meeting is to integrate all of these programmatic areas- malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19 vaccination, Lassa fever and now diphtheria into one and educate our media partners on them and they can in turn help to educate our population on their prevention.

Mrs Oluwatoyin Afachung who stressed the importance of keeping COVID-19 Vaccination card noted that efforts must be intensified to awareness against the menace.

The media review meeting was attended by participants drawn from electronic, print and online media platforms continues.

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