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What happened, where and when?
The Lassa Fever outbreak in Nigeria keeps escalating with a cumulative 5,295 cases since week 1 of 2024, 150 deaths have been recorded so far, 806 confirmed cases include 32 healthcare workers affected in 27 states including the FCT. The worst affected states are Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, Ondo, Plateau, Benue, Cross River, Rivers, Anambra, and Ebonyi States with 125 local government areas.
Since February when the cases began to peak, NRCS has been called for support from MoH and through various response platform in place. Branches demands for Red Cross help continue to be recorded from 29th March to 2nd April following the worsening of the situation. Indeed, although Lassa fever disease is endemic in Nigeria, a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.8% reported on week 12 is appalling and several gaps identified in coordination with health partners raised a lot of concerns. The number of cases also drastically increased compared to the same period in 2023 i.e 5,029 suspected cases from January to week 12 compared to the same period in 2023, which was 3,361.
In the reporting EPI week 12, there were 25 new confirmed cases, 303 suspected cases, 6 deaths and case fatality of 24% reported, with Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, and Ebonyi States highlighted as hotspot zones. In total for 2024, 27 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 125 Local Government Areas. The National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate response at all levels at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). So far, the response has been coordinated through 8 pillars namely: Coordination, Research, Risk Communication, Surveillance, Case Management, Logistics, Laboratory, Infection Prevention and Control, and Safe burial.
Even though the cases are higher than past year similar period, the emergency is due to the fatality rate which is >18% and in some states higher. Both NCDC and MoH highlight the gaps and needs on this situation. There is also an important delay between the data collected and the available published reports which could hide a bigger situation. Furthermore, there is a clear expansion of this outbreak in non endemic areas. Both non endemic states and LGAs that have never reported cases in the most vulnerable endemic states are affected.
NCDC following the gaps observed on RCCE and case findings, addressed to the NS the request to scale-up those areas.