Nigeria Records Decline In Lassa Fever Cases -NCDC
LAGOS MARCH 11TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) has affirmed that over the last five weeks, there has been a decline in the number of new cases of Lassa fever reported in Nigeria.
In a statement made available to NewsRangers, NCDC said the country has equally witnessed a reduction in the number of people who have died from the disease, compared to 2018.
Interacting with members of the press at a briefing held on the 11th of March 2019, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr.ChikweIhekweazu, revealed that the NCDC and partners continue to sustain response activities in states across the country, despite progress made so far.
“An outbreak of Lassa fever was declared in Nigeria on the 21st of January 2019. Since then, 420 confirmed cases and 93 deaths have been reported in 21 States. The national response is being coordinated by the national, multi-sectoral, multi-partner Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) led by NCDC. In addition, NCDC has supported Ebonyi, Edo, Ondo, Plateau and Kebbi states in activating sub-national level EOCs for coordination.
“Following the large Lassa fever outbreak in 2018, the NCDC together with partners instituted five key measures to ensure improved preparedness in 2019.
“Trained over one thousand health care workers in the six zones in the country on Lassa fever management, diagnosis and surveillance, together with the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital;
“Prepositioning of treatment and diagnostic supplies to the 21 states that recorded cases in 2018, treatment centres and laboratories;
“Publication of Lassa fever messages on three major newspapers, weekly radio shows on Radio Nigeria, and intensive community engagement;
“High level advocacy visits to State Governments, encouraging them to do more to prevent and respond to cases of Lassa fever;
“Developed new case management guidelines, initiated a Lassa fever Research Consortium and hosted and International Conference on Lassa Fever to share knowledge,” the statement revealed.
TtheAgency advised that it is very important that Nigerians continue to practice preventive measures to avoid infection, adding that prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good community hygiene to discourage rodents from entering homes.
“Other effective measures include storing grains and other foodstuff in rodent-proof containers, proper disposal of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households and frequent hand hygiene. All food should be well prepared, and family members should always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons,” the statement stated.
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Posted by News Rangers
on Mar 11 2019. Filed under Health, National.
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