Nigeria 2012: Lassa Fever cases; 112 fatalities

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 40 fatalities - According to health minister

Nigeria: Lassa Fever Kills Six Health Workers, 34 Others
BY RUBY LEO, 22 FEBRUARY 2012
Two doctors and four nurses were among the over 40 people killed by Lassa fever in 12 states in the last six weeks, the Minister of state for Health Professor Muhammed Ali Pate has said.

The minister told journalists yesterday in Abuja that over 397 cases of Lassa fever have so far being reported in Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Taraba, Yobe, Ondo, Rivers, Gombe, Anambra, Delta and Lagos states.

He however said that out of the 397 cases only 87 were positively confirmed by medical officials.

Pate narrated the case of a 28-year-old female corps member who completed her three weeks orientation in Rivers State but travelled home to visit her family in Afikpo and Abakiliki, capital of Ebonyi State. She contracted the fever on January 1 and died two days later.
...

http://allafrica.com/stories/201202220581.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 40 fatalities - According to health minister

12 States Affected with Lassa Fever -Minister of State Health
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 14:36
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate has said that 12 states have been reported with the cases of Lassa fever in past 12 weeks. The States are Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Taraba, Yobe ,Ondo, Rivers, Gombe, Anambra, Delta and Lagos.

The Minister made this indication today in Abuja while briefing the press on the outbreak of Lassa fever disease in Nigeria.

The Minister said that out of the 12 States, three (Edo, Nasarawa and Plateau) are known to be endemic States and it is from there that cases were exported to Lagos, Rivers and Yobe.

He added that the total number of cases so far reported is 397, out of which 87 were confirmed.

?Total number of death is 40, out of these, 6 were health workers (2 Doctors 4 Nurses). Also affected was a 28 year old female corp member who completed her one month orientation camping at Rivers State and visited her families at Abakaliki and Afikpo, took ill on 1st January 2012 with signs and symptoms of the Lassa fever and subsequently died 3rd January 2012?

Speaking on the Federal Government efforts to curtail the menace, the Minister said the Federal Ministry of Health has released adequate quantities of ribavirin injections, the specific antiviral drug for Lassa fever to all the affected states for prompt and adequate treatment of cases.

He also said that the Ministry has deployed rapid response team to all the affected states to assist in investigating, verifying the cases and tracing of contacts.

He advised family members and health care workers to be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.

According to the Hon. Minister, host of the Lassa virus is rat ?Mastomys natalensis? these rats are different from common domestic rats, they are smaller in size and have many breasts while the common rats have only two breasts.

He said person at greatest risk are those living in the rural areas with poor sanitation where the rats are usually found. The virus is shed in the urine and dropping of the rats, it can be transmitted through direct contact, touching objects or eating food contaminated with these materials or through cut or sore.

It is important to note that the virus is not spread through casual contact including skin to skin contact without exchange of body fluids. The Minister said.

He stressed that Nigerian Government will continue to enhance its surveillance and social education, information and communication activities to prevent the disease from spreading further in Nigeria.

http://www.fmh.gov.ng/index.php/component/content/article/912-12-states-affected-with-lassa-fever-minister-of-state-health

[Shiloh]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 40 fatalities - According to health minister

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/f...esponse-cttee/


FG inaugurates Lassa fever Rapid Response c’ttee
On February 24, 2012 · In News
2:14 am

BY VICTORIA OJEME
ABUJA — The Federal Government has inaugurated Lassa fever Rapid Response Committee to prevent and control further outbreak of the disease, which has infected 12 and killed about 40 people...

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/fg-inaugurates-lassa-fever-rapid-response-cttee/

FG Inaugurates Lassa fever Rapid Response Committee
Friday, 24 February 2012 10:11
The Federal government has inaugurated Lassa Fever Rapid Response Committee to prevent and control further outbreak of the disease, which has infected 12 and killed about 40 people.


The Committee which was inaugurated yesterday 22 February 2012,by the Hon.Minister of State for Health Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate is to be chaired by Prof. Sunday Aremu Omilabu of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
Lassa fever has affected12 states, with resultant morbidity and mortality. 397 cases have been recorded in Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba, Plateau, Nassarawa, Ebonyi. Edo,Ondo, Rivers, Anambra and Lagos state, out of which 87 were confirmed, 40 deaths and 10.1 CFR Have been recorded as of 17th February, 2012.
The Minister said that the aim of the committee was to coordinate Federal and State Governments as well as Development Partners’ response in controlling further spread of the disease.
He said that Federal government was concern about the danger of Lassa fever in Nigeria, pointing out that the government has set up National Lassa fever stakeholder’s forum in 2007 to advocate for action against the disease.
“Government would continued to support the treatment of all reported Lassa fever cases with prompt preposition of ribaviring drugs and personal protective equipment. This year (2012)500,000 vials of the ribavirin drugs were procured and distributed to the affected States”.
“It is our resolve to do everything possible not only to control Lassa fever epidemic but to put in place mechanism for it effective prevention. It is in the light of this National Lassa Fever Rapid Response Committee is being inaugurated”, Dr Pate stated.

The Minister stated that the committee will provide technical expertise towards contailing the outbreak, come up with standard treatment protocol and guidelines for management of Lassa fever, develop Standard Operating Procedures on infection control in hospitals and mobilise resources for prevention and control of the disease.
The committee will also coordinate intervention activities on prevention and control of the disease.
“It is expected that this committee will come up with a sustainable framework for combating the scourge of Lassa fever to prevent lost of lives of general public and those of the health workers” the Minister added.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the committee Prof. Sunday Aremu Omilabu thanked the government for giving them the opportunity to serve in the committee.
He assured Nigerians in general that the committee will perform its duty diligently, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health should provide all the necessary support for the committee to deliver on its mandate.
The Committee which has 23 members with representative from Government Agencies and Development Partners has Dr. Henry Akpan from the Federal Ministry of Health as Secretary.

http://www.fmh.gov.ng/index.php/component/content/article/913-fg-inaugurates-lassa-fever-rapid-response-committee

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 40 fatalities - According to health minister

Latest figures;

A total of 455 suspected cases of Lassa fever, 9 Laboratory confirmed and 46 deaths (CFR 11%) have been recorded in 13 States between weeks 1-7 2012.

http://www.fmh.gov.ng/index.php/component/content/article/914-weekly-updates-on-epidemics-in-nigeria-as-at-24th-february-2012

[Shiloh]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 46 fatalities

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201202290237.html

Daily Trust (Abuja)
Nigeria: NE-MA Raises Alarm Over Spread of Lassa Fever
By Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, 29 February 2012


Kaduna ? The National Emergency Management Agency (NE-MA) yesterday raised alarm over the outbreak of the disease in 12 states in the country.

The acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA in the North-west, Alhaji Musa Ilallah in a statement in Kaduna, lamented that over 400 suspected cases of the disease have been reported, and that not less than 40 lives have been lost from the disease.

Assuring Nigerians that efforts are being made by the agency to check the spread of the disease, he stated that research conducted by experts revealed that people become infected by eating food contaminated with rat excreta/urine. He said the disease can be spread through direct contact or by coming in contact with fluids of infected persons such as blood, saliva and urine...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 46 fatalities

Nigeria: FCTA Records Three Suspected Lassa Fever Cases
BY CATHERINE AGBO, 1 MARCH 2012
Comment
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has recorded three suspected Lassa Fever cases since the recent outbreak of the diusease.

Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya, who disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing said the three suspected cases were reported from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) and National Hospital.

He, however, said the cases had not been confirmed, just as no deaths had been recorded.

Onakomaiya said that that as part of efforts to prevent, control and ensure effective case management, the secretariat had embarked on community sensitisation and mobilisation through health education in markets, motor parks, mosques, churches and other public places as well as prepositioning of personal protective equipment and medical supplies in FCTA health facilities across the territory.
...

http://allafrica.com/stories/201203010369.html

[Shiloh]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 46 fatalities

Source: http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news...assa-fever-cmd

UCH records first case of lassa fever - CMD
Written by By Sade Oguntola and Adewale Ajayi
Friday, 02 March 2012 00:33


Following the outbreak of lassa fever in 12 states, including Lagos and Ondo states, Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, announced on Thursday, that it had recorded its first case of Lassa fever.

Confirming the diagnosis while briefing journalists on his one year in office, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Temitope Alonge, said two suspected cases were brought to the hospital.

Professor Alonge said one case was confirmed in the hospital while the second suspected case was discovered to be negative after clinical test...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 46 fatalities

Weekly Updates on Epidemics in Nigeria: as at 2nd March, 2012
Tuesday, 06 March 2012 12:01

...

. A total of 517 suspected cases of Lassa fever, 93 Laboratory confirmed and 51 deaths (CFR 10.0%) have been recorded in 15 States as at 2nd March 2012.
...

http://www.fmh.gov.ng/index.php/component/content/article/918-weekly-updates-on-epidemics-in-nigeria-as-at-2nd-march-2012

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 51 fatalities

Nigeria: Tackling the Lassa Fever Epidemic
8 MARCH 2012
Comment
43 years after the first case of Lassa fever was recorded, the country is still grappling with the virus that is transmitted by hairless tailed bush rats that abound in the country. With more than 40 lives already lost and over 400 others infected this year alone, Olaolu Olusina examines the inadequate surveillance system and lacklustre response to the killer virus which is responsible for some 5,000 deaths every year

Nigerians were indeed jolted when the news of a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever was broken by the Federal Ministry of Health about seven weeks ago. Many were further worried at the revelation that the disease, which had spread into 12 states including Edo, Taraba, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Plateau, Nassarawa, Ebonyi, Ondo, Rivers, Anambra and Lagos States, was being transmitted through a species of bush rats.

At the last count, the government disclosed that hospital records showed that over 40 lives had been lost to the disease which had assumed epidemic proportions with over 400 persons already infected. Edo and Taraba topped the list of states with the highest casualty figures while about 50 million Nigerians are believed to be at risk from the disease which is even killing doctors and nurses.
...

http://allafrica.com/stories/201203091015.html

[Emily]

Borno, Nigeria records first case of lassa fever

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/201...ssa-fever.html

Borno records first case of lassa fever
By Our Reporter 29/02/2012 00:00:00

Borno State has recorded its first case of Lassa fever, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Salam Anas-Kolo, has said.

Anas-Kolo told newsmen in Maiduguri that a middle-aged man had died of the disease on February 21.

?We have recorded the first case of Lassa fever in the state. Last Tuesday, a middle-aged man was afflicted by the disease and he died a few hours later at the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, after doctors tried to save his life but to no avail,? she said...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 51 fatalities

Lassa Fever Spreads To 16 States, Says Health Minister

Fri, 16/03/2012 - 6:44pm | OUR CORRESPODENT News Health



The Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said that the Lassa fever epidemic has so far spread to 16 states across the federation.

Chukwu said this on Friday in Umuahia when he accompanied the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, to the launch of Pro-Vitamin A cassava varieties at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike.

Speaking with newsmen, he said that the scourge was not strange in Nigeria, pointing out that ``Edo State has long been experiencing it.??

According to him, ''what we are witnessing now is the outbreak of the epidemic in some other parts of the country.??

...

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/19415/2012/03/16/lassa_fever_spreads_16_states_says_health_minister.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 51 fatalities

...
Lassa Fever
As at 16th March 2012 a total of 610 suspected Lassa fever cases, 104 Laboratory confirmed with 69 deaths (CFR 11.3%)have been recorded in 18 States (Table 1).In the reporting week 10 (2012), 81 suspected cases of Lassa fever, 6 Laboratory confirmed with 14 deaths (CFR, 17.3%) were recorded with Abia and Bauchi states being the newest States.
...

http://www.fmh.gov.ng/images/stories/documents/WeeklyEpidemiologyReport16th_March_2012.pdf

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 69 fatalities

A total of 675 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been reported from 19 States as at 23 rd March 2012 with 110 Laboratory confirmed and 72 deaths (CFR 10.7%).

http://www.fmh.gov.ng/index.php/component/content/article/922-weekly-updates-on-epidemics-in-nigeria-as-at-23rd-march-2012

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 72 fatalities

Weekly Updates on Epidemics in Nigeria: as at 30th March, 2012
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:24
Federal Ministry of Health Weekly Epidemiology Report a total of 714 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been reported from 19 States as at 23 rd March 2012 with 110 Laboratory confirmed and 75 deaths (CFR 10.5%).
...

http://www.fmh.gov.ng/index.php/component/content/article/930-weekly-updates-on-epidemics-in-nigeria-as-at-30th-march-2012

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nigeria: Lassa Fever cases; 75 fatalities

Lassa fever claims 3 in Nasarawa

Written by Umar Muhammed, Lafia
Thursday, 05 April 2012

NO fewer than three persons have lost their lives in Nasarawa State as a result of lassa fever outbreak in Lafia, Obi and Awe local government areas of the state.

Confirming the incident to journalists after kicking-off the distribution of relief materials to the three affected local governments in the state, which were brought by the Nasarawa State Red Cross Society in conjunction with the International Community of Red Cross Society, on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, said though one person lost his life but the remaining two died because they could not get their blood specimen from the lab, saying their death could be probably as a result of the disease.
...

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/38807-lassa-fever-claims-3-in-nasarawa