Plateau State in central Nigeria has reported two fatalities from Lassa fever, following the confirmation of two cases within the Unguwan Gar and Kwalla communities of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area. This outbreak has prompted immediate action from health authorities to contain the highly infectious viral haemorrhagic fever and prevent further spread across the region. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, confirmed the tragic deaths and the swift public health response now underway.
The two confirmed patients, though ultimately succumbing to the disease, received treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi State. Health officials have since launched an intensive contact tracing exercise, identifying and initiating monitoring for 69 individuals who had close contact with the deceased. These contacts are currently under close observation, strictly adhering to established national and international public health protocols to detect any potential secondary infections promptly.
In response to the confirmed cases and fatalities, the Plateau State Ministry of Health has activated a comprehensive incident management system. This multi-sectoral approach aims to coordinate all response efforts effectively, ensuring a unified and robust strategy against the outbreak. The state epidemiologist has been appointed as the Incident Manager, tasked with overseeing the critical components of this emergency response.
The Incident Manager’s responsibilities are extensive, encompassing the coordination of surveillance activities to identify new cases, meticulous case management protocols for those infected, and crucial risk communication strategies to inform and educate the public. Furthermore, the role involves engaging with media outlets to sensitise communities on preventive measures and building the capacity of health workers through targeted training in infection prevention and control.
Lassa fever, an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, poses a significant public health challenge in West Africa. It is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats, known as the “multimammate rat.” Human-to-human transmission can also occur through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of an infected person, particularly in healthcare settings without adequate infection control or during unsafe burial practices.
The symptoms of Lassa fever vary widely, often beginning insidiously with fever, general malaise, weakness, and headache. In many cases, the fever may initially be misdiagnosed as malaria due to similar symptoms, making early detection challenging. As the disease progresses, patients can develop more severe signs, including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and, in advanced stages, bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina, or gastrointestinal tract, leading to multi-organ failure and death.
To mitigate the risk of Lassa fever transmission, Mr. Baamlong strongly urged residents to adopt stringent hygiene practices. Key preventive measures include consistently keeping homes and surroundings clean to deter rodents, storing food in covered containers, and ensuring all food is thoroughly cooked before consumption. The public is also advised to report any persistent fever that does not respond to standard malaria treatment to the nearest health facility without delay.
Residents of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area and its environs have been called upon to heighten their vigilance and maintain exemplary personal and environmental hygiene. Prompt reporting of any suspected Lassa fever cases to local healthcare facilities is paramount, enabling rapid diagnosis, isolation, and treatment, which are crucial for improving patient outcomes and breaking the chain of transmission within communities.
Reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all Plateau residents, Commissioner Baamlong appealed to all development partners and stakeholders for their support in this critical response effort. Collaborative action is essential to mobilise resources, enhance surveillance, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure to effectively combat the Lassa fever threat and other public health emergencies.
In a related public health address, the Commissioner also condemned alarming unsanitary practices observed at some slaughter slabs within the state. He highlighted the egregious act of washing meat with contaminated sewage water, a practice that poses severe risks of foodborne and water-related diseases. Such unwholesome activities are direct pathways for the transmission of cholera, typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, and other gastrointestinal infections, underscoring a broader need for improved food safety regulations and enforcement.
This condemnation underscores the interconnectedness of public health challenges. While Lassa fever demands immediate attention, the practices at slaughter slabs reveal systemic issues in food hygiene that could precipitate other outbreaks, further burdening the healthcare system. Authorities are urged to enforce strict sanitary standards at all food processing and vending points to protect consumers from preventable illnesses arising from contaminated food sources.
