Abuja, 22 January 2016 - Traditional leaders from 19 Northern states have resolved to intensify community sensitization efforts in their respective domains and bring to an end, the Lassa fever outbreak, which as of 20 January 2015, recorded a total of 239 suspected cases and 44 confirmed cases, with 82 deaths from both confirmed and suspected cases in 17 states as well as  the Federal Capital Territory.

Lassa Fever is named after Lassa town in Borno State and is endemic in most of the northern states.

The deputy chairperson of the Northern Leaders Traditional Council (NTLC), Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammadu Mera, stated that “as custodians of the people, our immediate responsibility will be to educate the general public in our respective communities on risks posed by rats, the current known reservoir of the Lassa Fever virus”.

Th Emir pledged on behalf of all leaders present to disseminate sensitization messages from the ministry of health and World Health Organization (WHO) in mosques, churches and other community forums. He further pledged to “reinforce government’s efforts by sponsoring sensitization messages on community radio and television stations urging the general public to immediately report any strange illnesses to their nearest health facilities”.

In a presentation to the traditional, Dr Audu Musa Idowu, the WHO State Coordinator, indicated that Isolation centers have been identified in most states while 71,000 tablets of Ribavirin, 20,750 vials of parenteral Ribavirin and 960 units of Personal Protective Equipment  were distributed to the affected states as of 20 January 2016. He informed the traditional leaders that six National laboratories with polymerase chain reaction capability are currently conducting analysis of samples collected.

As community leaders met in Kaduna, the Federal Government, through the National Council on Health (NCH) convened an emergency meeting on 18 January, 2016, inaugurated a national Lassa Fever Eradication Committee. The communique issued at the end of deliberations reflected a collective resolve  by all 36 State Commissioners of Health and Directors of tertiary medical institutions to significantly strengthen Lassa Fever control efforts.

During the extraordinary NCH meeting, the Honourable Minister of Health, Professor. Isaac Adewole, described the epidemic as “an embarrassment that should not be allowed to become a national shame”. He sought for strategies from the commissioners and partners that would enable the country to quickly contain the epidemic and sustain control measures to avoid another epidemic during the  next dry season.

The minister  further pledged the establishment of additional six laboratories for Lassa Fever diagnosis. He disclosed that, worst case scenario projections, show that the epidemic could  worsen beyond that of 2012 with over 3,000 cases if the control measures are not lumped up immediately. He also indicated that about 56% of suspects with “typical Lassa Fever symptoms have turned negative for Lassa Fever virus and other haemorrhagic fever virus” and are therefore kept for further investigations.

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Technical contacts:

Dr Rex Mpazenje; Tel: +234 7803 960 0874; Email: mpazanjer [at] who.int

Dr Mary Stephen; Tel: +234 816 289 9789; Email: stephenm [at] who.int

•    Media contact:

Ms  Charity Warigon; Tel: +234 810 221 0093; Email: warigonc [at] who.int

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Below:

01. Emir of Argungu speaking on behalf of the traditional instituion

02. Dr Idowu Kaduna  WHO State Coordinator briefing traditional leaders on Lassa Fever