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The Nigerian Academy of Science has urged the Federal Government to declare Lassa fever a national emergency.

The President of the academy, Prof. Mosto Onuoha, in a statement on Monday, said a total of 16,783 suspected cases had been reported with 1,047 deaths since Lassa fever was first reported in Nigeria in January 1969.

He said, “Of the fatal cases, 73 health care workers were affected. The disease occurs throughout the year with seasonal peaks, beginning from the early dry season months of November until the beginning of the rainy season.

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“Between 1969 and 2007, Lassa fever was reported in only two states (Borno and Plateau). However, from 2008 to 2012, the disease spread to an additional eight other states; from 2013 until 2019, no fewer than 23 states reported Lassa fever cases annually.”

While acknowledging the effort of the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and other relevant agencies, the Academy noted that more actions were needed.

“The Federal Government should declare Lassa fever disease a public health event of national concern attaining an emergency status. An interdisciplinary One-Health Committee should be set up to advise and assist the NCDC in investigating and managing Lassa fever outbreaks.

“The Federal Government should provide adequate funds for a sensitive disease surveillance system backed by a reliable network of diagnostic laboratories.

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“Given that only about 20 per cent of suspected Lassa fever cases are usually confirmed, there is the need to improve the capability and enhance the capacity of the national laboratory network for reliable and efficient diagnosis of suspected cases,” Onuoha said.

He also urged the federal and state governments to mount an extensive and sustained public Lassa fever prevention and control awareness programme. Punch