In the past two months, Lassa fever has taken the lives of nine individuals in Benue State, Nigeria. Dr. Sam Ngishe, the state epidemiologist, disclosed this information to the press on Thursday, Feb. 29, highlighting that some of the deceased were residing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
Dr. Ngishe expressed concern about the high population of rats in the IDP camps, which are believed to be transmitting the disease. He emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent a potential outbreak that could be challenging to control.
According to Dr. Ngishe, a total of 46 people, including health workers and IDPs, have been affected by Lassa fever across the state. The disease has been identified in seven out of the 23 local government areas of the state, including Obi, Okpokwu, Gwer West, Makurdi, Guma, Gwer East, and Ukum.
Regarding the deceased, Dr. Ngishe stated, "nine deaths in confirmed cases and they have been buried in accordance with safe burial protocols across the various areas of the state where they hail from."
To address the outbreak, the state government has implemented safe burial protocols and is intensifying efforts to reduce the fatality rate, which is currently above the national average of 10 percent. Dr. Ngishe also highlighted the challenges posed by the IDP camp environment, such as poor sanitation, overcrowding, and malnutrition, which contribute to the spread of infectious diseases.
He emphasized the need for active surveillance in the community, especially in the IDP camps, to control the spread of Lassa fever and other infectious diseases.
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