A total of 162 people have so far died of Lassa fever in Nigeria in 2022.
The latest Lassa fever situation report for week 28, obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Sunday, showed that there are 847 confirmed cases of the disease in the country.
The confirmed cases are said to be distributed across 24 states and 99 local government areas in the country.
The report also noted that there were 5,756 suspected cases.
Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease associated with high morbidity and mortality, and it has both economic and health security implications.
A breakdown indicated that of all confirmed cases, Ondo has (30%); Edo, (25%); and Bauchi (14%) states.
The report read in part, “In week 28, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 13 in week 27, 2022 to 5 cases. These were reported from Edo and Ondo states.
“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 28, 2022, 162 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 19.1%, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (23.3%).”
“In total for 2022, 24 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 99 local government areas.
“The predominant age group affected is 21–30 years old (Range: 0 to 90 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.
“The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.”
Monkeypox cases rise
Also, the monkeypox situation report by the NCDC for week 28 showed that confirmed cases have increased to 117, from the previous 101.
The report noted that no fewer than 338 suspected cases of the disease have been reported in the country, with three deaths.
The NCDC said, “From January 1 to July 17, 2022, there have now been 338 suspected cases and 117 confirmed cases (80 male, 37 female) from 25 states – Lagos (15), Adamawa (11), Delta (10), Rivers (9), Edo (8), Bayelsa (8), Nasarawa (7), Plateau (6), FCT (5), Ondo (5), Anambra (4), Cross River (3), Kwara (3), Borno (3), Taraba (3), Oyo (3), Imo (3), Kano (2), Katsina (2), Gombe (2), Niger (1), Ogun (1), Kogi (1), Bauchi (1), and Akwa Ibom (1).”
Cholera cases rise
As of July 3, 2022, a total of 2,523 suspected cases of cholera, including 78 deaths, have been reported from 31 states, according to the latest report from the NCDC.
The NCDC added that the case fatality rate of cholera stands at 3.1%.
Cholera is a life-threatening acute diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, a gramme negative rod-shaped bacterium. It is primarily a waterborne disease.
The report read in part, “Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, the age group 5 years is the most affected age group for both males and females.
“Of all suspected cases, 50% are males and 50% are females.
“Six states account for 69% of all cumulative cases: Taraba (639 cases), Cross River (591 cases), Katsina (141 cases), Kano (155 cases), Ondo (117 cases), and Benue (101 cases).
“Six LGAs across two states, Cross River (3) and Taraba (3), reported more than 100 case each this year.”
NMA, experts react
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, said the association is worried about the spread of monkeypox.
“We are worried because if one person dies, everyone is affected. We call on the Federal Government and the NCDC to sit up,” Ojinmah said.
Also, a medical virologist at Adeleke University, Ede, Dr. Oladipo Kolawole, said there was the need to “put great scientific-based preventive measures in place so that the wider population will not be affected. The priority is to stop transmission to others as soon as possible.
“Anything international events or activities in affected regions or countries may likely be affected. Nigeria should be on alert as usual from previous experience because the country has the diagnostic capacity to curtail the virus through the lessons we have learnt from the previous outbreaks.”
Reacting also, the immediate past President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, called on the Federal Government to create more awareness among the populace.
“With monkeypox, COVID-19, cholera, and Lassa fever, people need to be more careful and this is the time the NCDC needs to be more on the alert. People should not neglect the non-pharmaceutical protocols, especially now that we are battling multiple disease outbreaks,” he said.
