Largest Lassa Fever outbreak ever to hit Nigeria shows signs of wavering

The World Health Organization (WHO), in reporting on Nigeria and the massive case of Lassa Fever currently infecting the country, notes that the outbreak shows signs of lessening while stressing further caution.

While Lassa Fever is endemic to Nigeria and a number of other African nations, an outbreak which began Jan. 1, 2018, has become the largest such outbreak ever recorded in Nigeria. Of 1,495 suspected cases, 376 have been confirmed and 95 deaths linked to the disease–though that number may be as high as 119. Among the dead are four healthcare workers, though 13 others have been infected.

Since mid-February, though, WHO reports that weekly cases have decreased. That said, the organization looks at this fact with caution, as historical data shows the high transmission period for the disease has not yet passed. They are hoping a strengthened surveillance system in-country will help manage this, however.

WHO consequently calls for greater community engagement and hygienic conditions to discourage rodents from entering homes–the primary method of transmission. Infection prevention and control measures likewise need to be stressed among healthcare facilities. As to the danger of spread beyond national borders, WHO calls for lab testing and appropriate infection and control measures for febrile patients returning from West Africa, especially if they have been in rural areas or affected hospitals.

WHO has supported those dealing with the outbreak through enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, increased diagnostic capacities, standardization of reporting, case management and risk communication. They maintain that a moderate level of risk remains at the regional level and that public health actions should focus on continued surveillance, contact tracing, lab testing and case management, along with greater cross-border information sharing.