The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has confirmed two cases of Lassa fever out of four suspected cases, as announced by the Mandate Secretary of FCT Health Services and Environment, Dolapo Fasawe. The revelation was made during a news conference in Abuja, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus, is on the rise in Nigeria, with Edo, Ondo, and Delta states identified as hotspot areas. Fasawe highlighted that the FCT experiences sporadic infections between November and April, placing the city in the midst of an outbreak.
In response to the situation, the FCT has inaugurated an Emergency Operations Center to facilitate a coordinated subnational response and curb the transmission of the virus. Fasawe provided a national update, stating that Nigeria has recorded 486 suspected cases, confirming 134, with 21 deaths, resulting in a 15.7% case fatality rate.
Despite the FCT confirming two cases out of the four suspected, no deaths related to the disease have been reported. One of the confirmed cases involved a 14-month-old female. The sequence of events leading to the confirmed cases was detailed by Fasawe, citing the transmission of the virus from a deceased individual to high-risk contacts.
The rapid response and investigation were triggered when the FCT Public Health Department received an alert of Lassa fever from a clinician at Bwari General Hospital. The subsequent findings revealed that the two children were at high risk as they had been in close contact with their mother, a confirmed case who had been diagnosed in Bauchi. Tragically, the mother had passed away, prompting the father to bring the children back to FCT from Bauchi.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the launch of the Emergency Operations Center, signifying the FCT’s commitment to containing the outbreak. With the global spotlight on public health concerns, the FCT’s proactive measures and transparent communication are pivotal in addressing the Lassa fever outbreak.
