Dr. Joseph Okoeguale, Director of Viral and Emergent Pathogens at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, has revealed that approximately 37.7 million people across 14 West African nations are at risk of Lassa fever infection each year, with over 5,000 fatalities annually.
Okoeguale made this known recently during a lecture titled "University Community Collaboration in Lassa Fever Research: Advancing Diagnostic Capacity and Vaccine Development in Nigeria," hosted by the College of Medical Sciences at Edo State University, Uzairue.
He also highlighted that Edo State recorded 240 positive Lassa fever cases in the first quarter of this year.
"Lassa fever outbreaks continue to occur yearly, with increasing incidence and geographic spread affecting children, as well as both pregnant and non-pregnant adults in Nigeria," Okoeguale noted. He warned that the recurring outbreaks have placed immense pressure on Nigeria's health system, stressing that vaccination and prevention are the only viable solutions to end the disease.
He explained that while 20% of those infected show symptoms, 80% remain asymptomatic and do not seek treatment, adding that Lassa fever continues to claim lives across all age groups and genders.
Classified as a priority disease for research and development, Okoeguale emphasized that prevention and vaccination are crucial to curbing the disease's spread. He disclosed that his institute is developing trials to advance new treatments and vaccines for Lassa fever.
“We have built and equipped an ultramodern clinical trial and sequencing center, where we are now sequencing not only the Lassa fever virus but also COVID-19 and monkeypox viruses,” he added. He further revealed that the center recently received approval from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP) to conduct platform trials for new Lassa fever drugs.
Okoeguale notes that his team is collaborating with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Georgetown University, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to maintain a clinical fellowship program focused on the management of Lassa fever and other infectious diseases.
Lassa fever, also known as Lassa hemorrhagic fever, is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms. When symptoms occur they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pains.a Less commonly there may be bleeding from the mouth or gastrointestinal tract. The risk of death once infected is about one percent and frequently occurs within two weeks of the onset of symptoms. Of those who survive, about a quarter have hearing loss, which improves within three months in about half of these cases.
