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“Lassa fever outbreak has continued to occur yearly with growing incidence and...”

Edo State University Lecture Reveals Alarming Lassa Fever Stats: 21 Deaths, 240 Cases in Edo

A recent update from the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State reveals alarming numbers regarding Lassa fever cases. Between 2023 and March 2024, 21 individuals succumbed to the disease, with a total of 240 positive cases recorded during this period.

According to Joseph Okoeguale, Director of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Control and Research at the hospital, vaccination and prevention are crucial in combating the spread of Lassa fever. The situation is dire, with 37.7 million people across 14 West African countries at risk of infection annually, resulting in over 5,000 deaths.

Lassa Fever Situation in Nigeria

Confirmed Cases and Deaths: As of August 2024, Nigeria reported 168 deaths from Lassa fever, with a case fatality rate of 17.2%.

Affected States: Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi account for 67% of confirmed cases, with 28 states and 126 local government areas affected.

Age Group Affected: The 31-40 age group is most affected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.

These statistics underscore the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate the impact of Lassa fever in Nigeria and beyond.

He disclosed this while delivering a lecture titled, “University Community Collaboration in Lassa Fever Research, Advancing Diagnostic Capacity and Vaccine Development in Nigeria.”

The Edo State University, Uzairue, recently hosted the inaugural College of Medical Science Lecture Series, where Dr. Joseph Okoeguale shed light on Lassa fever, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a priority disease for research and development. He revealed that only 20% of infected individuals exhibit symptoms, while 80% remain asymptomatic, making it challenging to track and treat.

Dr. Okoeguale, a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, emphasized that prevention and vaccination are crucial in combating the disease. Lassa fever affects all age groups and both sexes, often going undiagnosed and unchallenged, resulting in significant mortalities. To address this, WHO recommends centers of excellence in affected regions.

Recommended Centers of Excellence:

• Lassa Fever Centre at Kenema General Hospital, Sierra Leone
• Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control at Irrua, also known as Institute of Viral And Emergent Pathogens Control And Research
• Federal Medical Center, Owo
• Federal Medical Centre, Bauchi
• Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA)

These centers aim to enhance research, diagnosis, and treatment of Lassa fever, ultimately reducing its impact on communities.

“Lassa fever outbreak has continued to occur yearly with growing incidence and increasing geographical spread affecting children, pregnant and non-pregnan adults in Nigeria.

“The yearly outbreak of Lassa fever has placed enormous strain on all aspects of the health system in Nigeria,” he said.

The Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is taking bold steps to combat Lassa fever. The hospital is designing trials to develop new drugs and vaccines, a crucial move in the fight against this deadly disease. This effort is bolstered by the hospital's recent approval from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP) to conduct a platform trial for new Lassa fever treatments.

Developments:

New Drug Trials: The hospital is working on developing new treatments, with a focus on favipiravir, a broad-spectrum antiviral shown to be effective against Lassa virus in pre-clinical studies.

EDCTP Approval: The hospital's approval from EDCTP marks a significant milestone in the quest for effective Lassa fever treatments.

Collaboration: The hospital is collaborating with the US Centre of Disease Control, George Town, and the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control to sustain a clinical fellowship program. This program aims to enhance clinical management of Lassa fever and other highly infectious diseases.

These developments underscore the hospital's commitment to tackling Lassa fever and improving public health outcomes in Nigeria and beyond.