21 Die of Lassa Fever in Three Months in Edo – Okoeguale

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The Director of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Dr. Joseph Okoeguale, on Monday said the only way to arrest the scourge of Lassa fever in Edo State, which he disclosed had claimed 21 lives between December 2023 and March 2024 out of 240 cases recorded, is by vaccination and prevention.

He was delivering a lecture titled, “University, Community Collaboration in Lassa Fever Research: Advancing Diagnostic Capacity and Vaccine Development in Nigeria” at the maiden edition of the College of Medical Science Lecture Series organised by the Edo State University, Uzairue, Etsako West local government area. Dr. Okoeguele also revealed that 37.7 million people in 14 West African countries were at risk of Lassa fever infection annually with expected 5,000 deaths.

Dr. Okoeguale, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, while stating that Lassa fever had been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a priority disease for research and development, said only 20% of those infected are symptomatic, while 80% are asymptomatic and do not seek medical attention nor present themselves for treatment

He said Lassa fever had continued to cause mortalities in all age groups and in both male and female undiagnosed and unchallenged hence, WHO had recommended centres of excellence in affected regions 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, adding that the number had been increased to five with Federal Medical Center, Owo, FMC Bauchi, and FETHA, Abakaliki.

According to him, “Lassa fever outbreak has continued to occur yearly with growing incidence and increasing geographical spread affecting children, pregnant and non-pregnant adults in Nigeria.

“The yearly outbreak of Lassa fever has placed enormous strain on all aspects of the health system in Nigeria, and the only way to bring a stop to this scourge of disease is by vaccination and prevention”.

The Director of the institute disclosed that the centre was designing trials that would help in developing new drugs and vaccine for Lassa fever.

“We have built and equipped an ultramodern clinical trial and sequencing centre and we commenced the sequencing not only of the Lassa fever virus, but the COVID-19 and Monkey Pox Virus. We have recently received approval by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP) to conduct a platform trial of new drugs for Lassa fever.

“We are currently collaborating with the United State Centre of Disease Control, George Town, and the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control, to sustain a clinical fellowship programme for the clinical management of Lassa fever and other highly infectious diseases.

In his opening address, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Dawood Egbefo, said that the gathering was to address a critical issue that impacted not only the community but also the entire nation. He said Lassa fever remained a significant public health challenge in Nigeria that affected countless lives and placing a strain on the healthcare system. Egbefo highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration as Lassa fever research required input from various fields such as biology, medicine, public health, social sciences in order to foster a culture of teamwork that can create a holistic approach to the public health challenge.

While extending his gratitude to the Provost, College of Medical Sciences, Dr Kenneth Atoe, for organising the first lecture series, he said the event was not only to showcase the dedication and hard work by the University but to also highlight that the University was at the forefront of championing the vital principle that public health is indeed a cornerstone of wealth.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Acting Provost of the university’s College of Medical Sciences, said the gathering was to explore a crucial topic that resonated deeply with the institution’s commitment to improving public health and addressing local challenges.

Dr. Atoe further stated that the lecture series was aimed at sharing knowledge between researchers, healthcare professionals, community and stakeholders; stimulate research and innovations in Lassa Fever diagnosis, treatment and prevention, and also to promote evidence-based policy decisions and community-led intervention.

He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Acting Vice Chancellor and his management team for their unwavering support to the College of Medical Sciences, saying their commitment to academic excellence and community engagement was evident in the success of the event. The provost however asserted that sustainability was key to long-term impact, and appealed to the University management, stakeholders and partners to continue supporting the initiative by ensuring its continuity and growth.