Nigerian authorities have issued a medical alert following the deaths of 40 people in the country, all linked to Lassa fever.
The disease is said to have started in Bauchi state in November 2015, and has now spread to 14 states, and many Nigerians are becoming worried as they liken the disease to the dreaded Ebola disease.
“The total number (of suspected cases) reported is 86 and 40 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2 per cent,” Health Minister Isaac Adewole told a news conference in the capital, Abuja.
The minister also said that laboratory tests had confirmed that 22 of the 86 suspected cases were Lassa fever and results were expected on the remaining cases.
In a move to arrest the spread of the disease, the health ministry and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have warned the public against physical contact with the people suffering from the sickness.
“Family members and health care workers are advised to always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.
“No travel restrictions will be imposed from and to areas currently affected Healthcare workers seeing a patient suspected to have Lassa fever should immediately contact the State Epidemiologist.”
Four national emergency numbers have also been launched to be used in reporting suspected cases.
The ministry gave assurances that there was adequate ribavirin, the specific antiviral drug for Lassa fever, in the affected areas for prompt and adequate treatment of the suspected cases.
The ministry has also deployed rapid response teams to all the affected states to assist in investigating and verifying the cases and tracing contacts.
People with Lassa fever do not display symptoms in 80% of cases, but the disease can cause serious symptoms and even death in the rest.
The disease is majorly transmitted by rodents, but can also be transmitted through contact of body fluids.
