21 persons died of Lassa Fever in Edo

The authorities of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, ISTH, in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State said 21 persons died of Lassa fever between 2023 and March 2024 in the state.

DAILY POST reports that Dr Joseph Okoeguale, Director of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Control and Research of the hospital said no fewer than 240 positive cases were recorded in the period under review.

He added that 37.7 million people in 14 West African countries are at risk of Lassa fever infection annually with over 5000 deaths.

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

The lecture was the first edition of the College of Medical Science Lecture Series organised by the Edo State University, Uzairue.

Dr Joseph Okoeguale said Lassa fever is classified by the World Health Organisation, WHO, as a priority disease for research and development.

He explained that only 20 per cent of those infected are symptomatic while 80 per cent are asymptomatic as they do not fall sick or present themselves for treatment.

Okoeguale, who is also a consultant of Obstetrics and Gynaecology noted that the only way to stop the scourge of the disease is by prevention and vaccine.

According to him, Lassa fever has continued to cause mortalities in all age groups and in both male and female, undiagnosed and unchallenged, hence, WHO have recommended centres of excellence in affected region such as Lassa Fever Centre at Kenema General Hospital, Sierra Leone and the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua, also known as Institute of Viral And Emergent Pathogens Control And Research.

“The numbers of the centres have been increased to five with Federal Medical Center, Owo, Federal Medical Centre, Bauchi and Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA.

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

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

He noted that the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is designing trials that would help in developing new drugs and vaccines for the disease.

He also added that the teaching hospital has recently been approved by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership, EDCTP, to conduct a platform trial of new drugs for Lassa fever.

Its others notable developments are the ongoing collaboration with the United State Centre of Disease Control, George Town and the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control to sustain a clinical fellowship program for the clinical management of Lassa fever and other highly infectious diseases.