Deadly lassafever outbreak tests nigerias revamped. The date of admission of the index case was 3 january 2016. A growing lassa fever outbreak in nigeria has killed 101 people, as west africa battles to contain a flare up of the virus, according to data from the nations health authorities released saturday. Failure of the nigerian health system to prioritise preparedness activities has been detrimental for prompt control of lassa fever, which requires robust laboratory. Of the total, 78 cases have been confirmed, amongst which 49. Promed reported on february 2016 that nigeria has recorded 176 cases with 108 deaths a case fatality rate of 61 percent. Lassa fever epidemiology in nigeria implications for research pdf. This is so called because at some point in the disease the patient bleeds. Lassa fever cases have increased in nigeria since 2016 with the highest number, 633 cases, reported in 2018. Lassa fever 2016 outbreak in plateau state, nigeria. This number increased to 14 states between 2009 and 2015 and rose further to at least 26 in 2016 alone. From 1920s, nigeria suffered epidemics of viral and zoonotic diseases this includes lassa which began as isolated case, now thought to be endemic in 2015, 430 suspected lassa fever cases 25 labconfirmed 40 deaths cfr, 9. Lassa fever in nigeria, benin, togo, germany and usa reliefweb. As of february 18, the nigeria centre for disease control ncdc reports 9 cases of lassa fever and 73 deaths.
Lassa fever lf, a disease endemic to west africa caused by infection with lassa virus family arenaviridae, causes an estimated 00300000 human cases annually. The lassa virus is carried by the multimammate rat. Number of confirmed cases with case fatality rate cfr by state, week 01 19, 2020 figure 6. Lassa fever is a disease that is spread primarily by rats. Lassa fever outbreak hits nigeria infectioncontrol. Lassa fever, also known as lassa hemorrhagic fever, is a virus that has generated recurrent outbreaks in west africa. Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever, is endemic in the west african countries of nigeria, sierra leone, liberia, and guinea, with sporadic outbreaks in other west african countries. Favipiravir and ribavirin treatment of epidemiologically. Since november 2015, at least 10 states in nigeria have been affected by an outbreak of lassa fever, an acute viral disease that causes fever, muscle pain, hemorrhage and sometimes death. Between weeks 1 and 45 2016, 868 suspected lassa fever cases with. Epidemiologic and clinical features of lassa fever.
Lassa fever was first documented in nigeria, in lassa village of borno state. Growing outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria worries. Lassa fever in the eastern province of sierra leone, 19701972. Thats compared with 733 cases and 71 deaths in all of 2017. An assessment of states preparedness to respond to lassa. Lassa fever is endemic in some parts of west africa, which include sierra leone, liberia, ghana, guinea and nigeria. The nigeria cdc has become stronger and faster, says kingsley ukwaja, a physician at the federal teaching hospital, abakaliki in ebonyi state a hotspot for the current lassa outbreak. Lassa fever death rates in nigeria higher than expected cnn. Lassa fever is endemic to nigeria, but sizable outbreaks are becoming more widespread across the country. In 2016, there are ongoing outbreaks of lassa fever in nigeria, benin and. It is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia, guinea and nigeria.
The animal reservoir is the rodent multimammate rat mastomys natalensis. Mortality among confirmed lassa fever cases during the. Nigeria hit by unprecedented lassa fever outbreak science. The country seems not to have learnt from past epidemics most especially the 2014 ebola virus disease evd outbreak. The lassa virus is transmitted to humans mainly through handling rats, food or household items contaminated by. In nigeria, as of 17 may 2016, 8 states are currently reporting lassa fever cases suspected, probable, and confirmed, deaths andor following of contacts for the maximum 21day incubation period. Outbreaks of the disease have been reported in various parts of nigeria and the most recent of them is the ongoing 2016 outbreak. In line with this, the ncdc has been leading the public health response to the ongoing the coronavirus disease covid19 outbreak in nigeria. Lassa fever lf outbreaks in nigeria mostly occur in rural areas and during the dry season, peaking between december through february. Lassa fever was first described in the 1950s, and the viral particle was identified in 1969 from three missionary nurses who died in lassa, nigeria, after caring for an infected obstetrical patient. Nigerias lassa fever outbreak is slowing, but remains a concern. Increase in lassa fever cases in nigeria, januarymarch 2018. Of the cases reported so far in the nigerian outbreak, the mortality rate is 43. Lassa fever lf is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the lassa virus lasv and.
And last week, the recently created coalition for epidemic preparedness innovations, known as cepi, awarded its first grant for development of a lassa fever vaccine to themis bioscience in vienna. It is transmitted to humans through physical contact with objects. Of these, two hundred and sixtyone 261 have been classified as. On 14 january, official records states at least 140 suspected. The disease is highly contagious and spread like wild fire. Low risk perceptions have been reported to prevent appropriate preventive behaviours. Who is working closely with ncdc to support outbreak response activities, and to coordinate technical assistance and the operational support of partners. Lessons learnt from epidemiological investigation of lassa. Travelers to nigeria should avoid contact with rats, especially rat urine and feces, and keep their accommodations or campsites clean. Lassa fever is endemic in parts of west africa including sierra leone, liberia and nigeria. In 2016, the world health organization added lassa fever to its new list of priority pathogens of epidemic potential, calling for more research. The two imported cases of lassa fever recently reported from togo.
Pdf lassa fever epidemic in nigeria outbreak investigation. Lassa fever lf is an epidemicprone zoonotic disease prevalent in nigeria and ebonyi state is a high burden area in nigeria. One wonders why borno state is usually home to a lot of things. Yinkaogunleye a, ipadeola o, saleh m, ilori e, dannwafor c, nwachukwu w, et al. Most cases are caused by infection from ingestion, inhalation, or direct contact with the environmental reservoir, mastomys natalensis rodents. In 2016, there are ongoing outbreaks of lassa fever in nigeria, benin. Measures to control protracted large lassa fever outbreak. Five national laboratories with pcr capability are currently conducting analysis of samples with 194 samples analyzed. The number of lassa fever infections in west africa every year is between 100,000 to 300,000, with about 5,000 deaths, according to the us centers for disease control and prevention. Lesson learned from the investigation and response of lassa fever. Nigerian health officials have declared an outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria. Lassa fever is an animalborne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness. As of 19 february 2016, there have been 72 cases 6 confirmed, 12 probable and 54 suspected cases, and 27 people have died cfr 33%.
This document assesses the risk of lassa fever infection in europe as a. From the onset of the outbreak, who nigeria deployed staff from the national and state levels to support the government of nigerias national lassa fever emergency operations. Evidence shows that an outbreak of lassa fever recently occurred in nigeria, involving many states and fatalities. Age and sex pyramid showing number of confirmed lassa fever cases for 2020 figure 5. Lassa fever in nigeria watch level 1, practice usual. Lassa fever update situation in numbers highlights unicef benin is scaling up its emergency response to the ongoing lassa fever outbreak. Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic illness caused by lassa virus. Number of confirmed cases with case fatality rate cfr by state, week 01 11, 2020 figure 6. We investigated the knowledge and risk perception of residents towards lf and determined the factors influencing their risk perception in communities that have reported confirmed. After nearly 400 confirmed infections and 100 deaths, the spread of lassa fever in nigeria is beginning to slow but the epidemic is far from contained, the world health organization and the nigeria centre for disease control ncdc have warned. The country is fighting an outbreak of lassa virus, which is transmitted in rodent feces and urine and. The 2016 2017 lassa fever outbreak started in december 2016 and affected 19 states across nigeria. A total of 788 suspected cases and 117 deaths were reported during the outbreak. We use mechanistic modelling to study the lassa fever epidemics in nigeria from 2016 19.
A growing lassa fever outbreak in nigeria has killed 101 people, as west africa battles to contain a flareup of the virus, according to data from the nations health authorities released saturday. From 1 january to 28 april 2019, 554 laboratoryconfirmed cases including 124 deaths were reported in 21 states in nigeria. National guidelines for lassa fever case management 1 nigeria centre for disease control foreword the large lassa fever outbreak in nigeria between january and may 2018, increased our awareness of the need to have welldetailed and easily accessible guidelines, for response activities. Ncdcs latest data shows that the number of new confirmed and probable cases. On 28 january, following the confirmation of the case of lassa fever at the st martin zone hospital of papane, in the northern district of tchaourou, the ministry of health of benin declared an outbreak and an immediate response with partners, who and unicef. Lassa fever lf is a severe acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by a virus belonging to the family arenaviridae. Pdf on jan 1, 2018, ibrahim sule baffa and others published descriptive characterization of the lassa fever outbreak in nigeria, 2016 find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. From its emergence in 1969 through 2008, lassa fever cases were reported in only seven of nigerias 36 states. The mass media encompasses print and nonprint methods of disseminating information including magazines, newspapers, radio, and television to a large. Pdf descriptive characterization of the lassa fever. Lassa fever is known to be endemic in nigeria, liberia, guinea and sierra leone and evidence of lassa fever infection has been reported in benin. The death toll from the latest round of lassa fever outbreak in nigeria has risen to 144, the nigeria centre for disease control ncdc said thursday with a. Who moves to contain nigerias lassa fever outbreak who. Trend of confirmed cases by epidemiological week, 2016 2020 11, nigeria.
Molecular diagnostics for lassa fever at irrua specialist teaching hospital, nigeria. Lassa fever erupts in nigeria a pile of garri, a staple food in nigeria, in a shop in lagos. In 2016, two cases were reported in togo, 21 and 6 confirmed cases in benin. Pdf preepidemic preparedness and the control of lassa. The world report by talha burki feb 24, p 7281 described an unprecedented astronomical rise in lassa fever cases in nigeria, for which the first case was reported in 1969 and the epidemiology and endemicity are well understood. Trend of confirmed cases by epidemiological week, 2016 2020 19, nigeria. This is in addition to the concurrent response to other epds such as measles, cerebrospinal meningitis, monkeypox, cholera and viral haemorrhagic fevers such as. Lassa fever is spread through direct contact with the. Lassa fever is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses, occurring in west africa subregions in similar areas as ebola virus. Pdf on apr 20, 2016, kehinde charles mofolorunsho and others published outbreak of lassa fever in nigeria. The nigeria centre for disease control ncdc is leading nigeria s preparedness and response to the lassa fever outbreak across the affected states. Mechanistic modelling of the largescale lassa fever. Lassa fever is a viral illness that occurs in west africa. Improved identification of lassa fever cases in nigeria provides the basis for epidemiologic studies of disease and effective disease control.
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