FG Should Also Pay Attention to Lassa Fever Says NARD

• FG Should Also Pay Attention to Lassa Fever Says NARD

Dr Aliyu Sokomba, the President, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), said the Federal Government should not ignore the rising number of Lassa Fever cases in Nigeria despite fighting COVID-19 pandemic.

Sokomba made the statement during an interview with the Punch.

He pointed out that Lassa Fever has more fatality rate than the COVID-19 as of today, “unfortunately, at the moment, we are battling two outbreaks; Lassa fever outbreak, which started sometime in January, and COVID-19, which was discovered in Nigeria in February.

“It might interest you to know that Lassa fever has killed 185 people and has affected 951 persons. So far, coronavirus has killed seven persons while about 305 persons have been infected. Lassa fever has 19.5 per cent case fatality, which means that for every 100 persons that have Lassa fever, about 20 of them will die. Coronavirus has a case fatality of two per cent, which means that for every 100 persons that have the virus, two of them will die.

“By all standards, Lassa fever in Nigeria should be getting more attention, going by the case fatality and the deaths recorded so far. But you know how it is in Nigeria.

“The reason the world is talking about coronavirus is because in their own case, they do not have a more dangerous and virulent disease they are battling with. Therefore, they are talking about the one they have and we are following the trend, abandoning the Lassa fever that has been killing us before now.

“Apart from the government not paying attention to Lassa fever, even the media has abandoned it. So, while we battle COVID-19, we have to pay attention to other diseases killing our people. I’m not saying COVID-19 should be abandoned, I’m only saying we need to also pay attention to other diseases.

He explained that “Lassa fever is also widely transmitted as much as COVID-19. Though COVID-19 spreads by droplets, Lassa fever spreads by contacts. There is virtually little to no difference. If you come in contact with someone with Lassa fever, there is a chance that you would have it.”