Abuja, 21 November, 2024 – In Nigeria, prone populations, especially these in underserved communities, remain at excessive risk of infectious ailments, including Lassa fever—an acute viral hemorrhagic illness brought on by the Lassa virus.
Endemic in Nigeria, Lassa fever continues to cling an label on hundreds each and each twelve months, with the dry season (December–April) being the top transmission length. In 2024, the illness has been in particular excessive, with 1,059 confirmed cases reported across 28 states, resulting in 175 deaths (16.6% case fatality rate). Alarmingly, 35 healthcare staff had been infected during the outbreak, underscoring the urgent want for strong infection prevention measures.
The Lassa virus is primarily transmitted to humans thru publicity to meals or family items contaminated with the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. Secondary transmission can happen thru grunt contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, posing distinguished risks to healthcare and laboratory staff who lack satisfactory protecting measures.
Scaling Up Preparedness and Response Efforts
As the dry season approaches its top, the World Health Organization (WHO) is intensifying its toughen to the Nigerian government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Adjust (NCDC), and command governments to red meat up preparedness and response.
Reaffirming WHO’s commitment to curbing Lassa fever, Dr. Ann Fortin, WHO Team Lead for Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster, emphasised: “With funding from the Govt of Canada (thru the CanGiVE Mission), WHO is helping red meat up early detection and affirmation of suspected cases, ensuring optimum supportive care, and enhancing infection prevention and abet watch over measures in designated effectively being providers across affected states.”
WHO’s technical aid focuses on coordinated responses, improved surveillance, efficient effectively being information management, and risk conversation and community engagement. Advocacy efforts are also underway to align key stakeholders for a unified and extra helpful response.
Targeted Interventions in High-Burden States
In Benue Pronounce, one in all the toughest-hit areas with 64 confirmed cases and 11 deaths in 2024, WHO has utilized targeted interventions to perform local capability. These efforts include: –
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Training main healthcare staff, rapidly response teams, community volunteers, and surveillance focal points in excessive-risk local government areas.
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Promoting early illness detection and community-led responses.
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Raising consciousness about behavioral changes, equivalent to improved shatter management and rodent abet watch over.
Expressing appreciation for WHO’s toughen, Dr. Paul M. Asema, Pronounce Epidemiologist for Benue Pronounce Ministry of Health and Human Companies and products, acknowledged: “The command deeply appreciates WHO’s contributions to protecting the effectively being of our folks, especially during these excessive outbreaks. A One Health arrive remains key to strengthening our response and ensuring development towards effectively being for all.”
Broader Give a boost to Across Precedence States
In addition to Benue, WHO is providing excessive toughen to Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Ebonyi states, focusing on:
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Supplying non-public protecting tools (PPE) for healthcare staff.
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Improving diagnostic and laboratory processes, including efficient sample series.
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Enhancing case management and standardizing infection prevention practices.
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Disseminating effectively being messages to communities, reaching over 35,000 individuals with lifestyles-saving information about Lassa fever prevention and abet watch over.
Empowering Communities: A Story of Hope
In the Ortese Camp for Internally Displaced Individuals (IDPs) in Benue Pronounce, WHO’s community engagement efforts cling supplied excessive toughen to residents like Mrs. Nyioun Adaga. “After I heard a neighbor in the camp had Lassa fever, I changed into unnerved,” remembers Mrs. Adaga. “However the healthcare team sensitized us on prevention measures, giving me self belief to offer protection to myself and my family. I am grateful for their steering.
Aligned with National and International Health Priorities
WHO’s interventions align with its Country Cooperation Approach 2023–2027, the Thirteenth Frequent Programme of Work (GPW13), and key Federal Govt frameworks, including the National Health Act, National Action Concept for Health Security, and Health Sector Renewal Initiative.
By leveraging multi-sectoral approaches, WHO and its companions are working tirelessly to procure certain no one is left behind in the battle against Lassa fever and numerous infectious ailments in Nigeria.
