In response to the surge of Lassa fever cases, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated an Incident Management System, as reported on their official website.
With 832 cases confirmed across 27 states and 126 Loc Government Areas from January to April 14, NCDC’s recent repor highlights a rise in confirmed cases compared to last year, with Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states contributing, specifically, Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi accounting for 65 per cent of confirmed cases.
Lassa fever, caused by the Lassa virus, spreads primarily through contact with infected rodents and can also transmitted from person to person, particularly in healthcare settings lacking proper infection control measures.
Some prevention measures that can be undertaken by the general public include avoiding rodent contact, maintaining good hygiene, and taking precautions when caring for infected individuals.