Rising Concerns: Edo Records 240 Lassa Fever Cases and 21 Fatalities

Dr. Joseph Okoeguale, Director of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, announced on Monday that Edo State recorded 240 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 21 fatalities between December and March 2024.

He further revealed that approximately 37.7 million individuals in 14 West African countries are at annual risk of Lassa fever infection, resulting in over 5,000 deaths.

Dr. Okoeguale made these statements while delivering a lecture titled “University Community Collaboration in Lassa Fever Research: Advancing Diagnostic Capacity and Vaccine Development in Nigeria” during the inaugural College of Medical Science Lecture Series organized by Edo State University Uzairue.

According to him, the World Health Organization has classified Lassa fever as a priority disease for research and development. He noted that only 20% of those infected exhibit symptoms, while 80% remain asymptomatic, often not seeking medical attention.

As a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr. Okoeguale emphasized that the only effective measures against the disease are prevention and vaccination. He stated that Lassa fever continues to cause deaths across all age groups, both male and female, often going undiagnosed.

The WHO has recommended establishing centers of excellence in affected regions, such as the Lassa Fever Centre at Kenema General Hospital in Sierra Leone and the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control in Irrua, which has now expanded to five centers, including Federal Medical Center Owo, FMC Bauchi, and FETHA Abakaliki.

He remarked, “Lassa fever outbreaks occur annually, with increasing incidence and geographical spread, affecting children and both pregnant and non-pregnant adults in Nigeria. These yearly outbreaks strain the health system, and the only solution to this ongoing crisis is vaccination and prevention.”

Dr. Okoeguale also mentioned that the center is designing clinical trials aimed at developing new drugs and vaccines for Lassa fever. “We have established a state-of-the-art clinical trial and sequencing center, where we are sequencing not only the Lassa fever virus but also those of COVID-19 and Monkeypox.”

He added, “We recently received approval from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership to conduct a platform trial for new Lassa fever treatments. We are collaborating with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgetown University, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to maintain a clinical fellowship program focused on managing Lassa fever and other highly infectious diseases.”

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dawood Egbefo, Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, highlighted the importance of addressing this critical public health issue that affects not only the community but the entire nation, noting that Lassa fever remains a significant challenge to Nigeria’s healthcare system.