ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Monday, April 19, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Vector of Lassa fever

Vector of Lassa fever

Amidst COVID-19, Lassa fever death toll rises in Nigeria

Many persons have died of the disease since its new season began in January.

byJosiah Oluwole
February 27, 2021
2 min read

Reported cases of Lassa fever are on a steady rise as the nation grapples with the challenges of stemming the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

More persons have also died of the disease since its new season began in January.

Lassa fever is an acute viral illness and a viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), whose causative agent is a single-stranded RNA virus in the arenaviridae family of the Lassa virus.

It was first reported in Lassa community in Borno State, Nigeria, when two missionary nurses died from “an unusual febrile illness”.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Lassa virus is transmitted to man by infected multi-mammate rats, the mastomys natalensis species complex which is the reservoir host.

Humans become infected from direct contact with the urine and faeces of the rat which contains the virus, through touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or exposure to open cuts or sores.

Statistics

According to the NCDC, a total of 22 persons have died of the fever since January 2021, beginning the week 1 of its cycle.

In the last one week, three persons have died of the disease across the country.

The total confirmed cases are 102, after the nation recorded 19 new cases in the last one week.

RelatedNews

Defence Minister, Service Chiefs visit North East theatre command

PDP demands Pantami’s sack over past statements on Al-Qaeda, Taliban

12 confirmed dead in Benue tanker explosion

APC governors disown Obaseki over allegation of currency printing

The new cases were reported in Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Enugu and Taraba states.

The disease is now prevalent in about eight states and 32 local government areas, with a fatality rate of 21.6 per cent.

Edo and Ondo States are in the lead of affected states, and had maintained the trend in the last three years.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

While Edo States has 50 confirmed cases so far, it has only suffered four fatalities, whereas Ondo State with 26 confirmed cases, has witnessed eight deaths in the new wave of the epidemic.

ALSO READ: NCDC issues Lassa fever public health advisory

Taraba has 11 confirmed cases with six deaths, while Ebonyi has six confirmed cases with one death.

Two persons have died in Bauchi and one in Enugu as a result of the disease.

COVID-19 challenge

Speaking on the development, the Ondo State Epidemiologist, Stephen Fagbemi, told PREMIUM TIMES the focus on the fight against COVID-19 “was a major drawback in this year’s campaign against Lassa Fever”.

He noted that although the states have stepped up their awareness campaign to stem Lassa fever, the challenge is “that the same personnel involved in the Lassa fever fight are the same officials dealing with the dreaded pandemic”.

“It is true we are challenged because the focus is much on COVID-19 and that is somehow affecting the way we react to Lassa fever as well,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Don’t forget we are fighting the battle in two fronts and we are also deploying the same set of personnel in the conflict, so there will be some challenges in this regard.”

He said, “because of the COVID-19 situation, not many sick persons are willing to go the hospital, and by the time they are brought in, it is almost too late for them to survive”.

Mr Fagbemi noted that the state, which has the highest number of fatalities, had done a lot to reduce the rate of infections compared to what was obtained in 2020.

He said the state had continued its deratification programme “by distribution a huge number of rat poisons and collecting the dead rats for proper disposal”.

Mr Fagbemi said with the current effort, the states would improve on the records of last year in the fight against the disease.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

I will contest APC chairmanship if zoned to North-east – Modu Sheriff

Next Post

Nigeria to receive COVID-19 vaccines Tuesday – Official

Josiah Oluwole

Josiah Oluwole

More News

Jose Mourinho

JUST IN: Tottenham sack Jose Mourinho

April 19, 2021
Nigeria takes delivery of the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca #COVID19Vaccines from #COVAX.

Best hope for fairly distributing COVID-19 vaccines globally at risk

April 19, 2021
NIGERIA: Nigerian police force

ANALYSIS: Intelligence failure compounding insecurity in Nigeria

April 19, 2021
The Regent School donates 180 beds to new isolation centre in Abuja

COVID-19: Nigeria records lowest daily infections in one year

April 19, 2021
Scene of the explosion

12 confirmed dead in Benue tanker explosion

April 18, 2021
COVID-19 vaccination [PHOTO CREDIT: @UNICEF_Nigeria]

COVID-19 vaccination, malaria eradication, other major health stories published last week

April 18, 2021
Next Post
Nigeria to receive COVID-19 vaccines Tuesday – Official

Nigeria to receive COVID-19 vaccines Tuesday - Official

Wole Soyinka

Soyinka laments abduction of students, warns it's becoming a culture

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,654,140 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
    • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.