The Director of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Dr Joseph Okoeguale, has confirmed that Edo state recorded 240 positive cases of Lassa fever and 21 deaths between December and March 2024. He noted that 37.7 million people in 14 West African countries are at risk of contracting the disease yearly in the region, with over 500 deaths recorded already.
The director revealed the figures while delivering a lecture titled “University Community Collaboration in Lassa Fever Research: Advancing Diagnostic Capacity and Vaccine Development in Nigeria” at the first edition of the College of Medical Science Lecture Series organized by the Edo State University Uzairue.
He explained that the World Health Organization had listed the disease as a priority disease which benefits from research and development.
He explained that when the disease affects an individual, only 20% of the people show symptoms, while 80% of the infected persons always stay without any form of symptom and fail to visit the hospitals for any form of treatment.
Dr Okoeguale, who has been a consultant of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists for years, noted that the only way the disease could be brought to its minimum was through the vaccination of all individuals in society.
He noted that Lassa fever has continued to cause mortalities in all age groups both male and female, undiagnosed and unchallenged hence, WHO has recommended centres of excellence in the affected region such as Lassa Fever Centre at Kenema General Hospital, Sierra Leone, and the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua also known as Institute of Viral And Emergent Pathogens Control and Research.
It was noted that the spread of the disease, which has continued to occur every year, has placed the health sector at a level of alert while it continues to strain the health system, with vaccination the only solution to the problem encountered.
He revealed that Edo State has recorded 240 positive cases of Lassa fever and 21 deaths between December and March 2024, while 37.7 million people in 14 West African countries are at risk of Lassa fever infection annually, with over 5000 deaths.
The director further noted that the centre is planning trials to help develop new drugs and vaccines for Lassa fever.
He also confirmed that the centre has built and equipped an ultramodern clinical trial and sequencing centre and that sequencing of not only the Lassa fever virus but also COVID-19 and the Monkey Pox Virus has commenced.
He disclosed that the centre recently received approval from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership to conduct a platform trial of new drugs for Lassa fever.
Speaking on the collaboration, it was disclosed that the centre had gotten collaborative approval with the United States Centre of Disease Control, George Town, and the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control to sustain a clinical fellowship program for the clinical management of Lassa fever and other highly infectious diseases.
In his remarks at the start of the program, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Dawood Egbefo, noted that the gathering was to address a critical issue that impacted not only the community but also the entire nation.
The vice chancellor noted that Lassa fever remained a substantial public health challenge in Nigeria, affecting numerous lives and pushing the healthcare system in the country.
