Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, activates multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate response efforts at all levels through the Emergency Operations Centre.

The centre made this known on its official website.

The NCDC said the move became necessary because it recorded 5,669 suspected cases of Lassa fever, resulting in 152 deaths, equating to a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 18.3 per cent.

The Centre noted that 832 cases had been confirmed across 27 states and 126 Local Government Areas from January to April 14.

There are reports that Lassa fever, caused by the Lassa virus, is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness primarily transmitted through contact with infected Mastomys rats’ urine or faeces, endemic in parts of West Africa.

The disease is also endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria.

Person-to-person transmission and laboratory infections can occur, especially in healthcare settings lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures.

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, with an overall case-fatality rate of one per cent and approximately 15 per cent for severe cases.

The center said that prevention of Lassa fever involves avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings, practicing good personal hygiene, and taking precautions when caring for infected individuals.