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The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. AFP/Getty Images

Nigeria struggles to contain spread of Lassa fever after 110 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 353 Lassa cases since 1 January.

NIGERIA IS BATTLING on two fronts against an unprecedented outbreak of Lassa fever, a cousin of Ebola, that has already killed 110 people this year.

Even as doctors are grappling to contain the threat, health watchdogs are struggling to understand why the deadly virus has spread so dramatically.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 353 Lassa cases since 1 January, compared with 143 cases for the whole of 2017.

But the possible reasons for this surge are many, said NCDC director Chikwe Ihekweazu.

“The harder you look, the more you find,” he said, citing a change in the virus’s environment, viral mutation and better reporting of cases by the public in response to awareness campaigns.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease that can be transmitted to humans from infected rat faeces or urine.

Like the notorious Ebolabut somewhat less contagious, it can also be passed from one person to another via contact with infected bodily fluids.

Full protective gear for medical personnel is vital and isolation is essential.

Overstretched facilities

A visit to the Lassa fever isolation ward at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in southern Edo State, the only such unit in a country of 190 million people, provides a snapshot of the practical difficulties in tackling the peril.

Before the unit was built in 2008, suspect blood samples were sent to South Africa for an accurate diagnosis, but when the results came back it was already too late, doctors say.

Despite its unique status, the Lassa facility, staffed by a dozen Nigerian employees and a handful of European tropical medicine specialists, is struggling.

In normal times, it treats just a couple of dozen patients each year. But since the start of 2018, the unit has already admitted more than 150.

“Now we have just below 30 patients,” said director Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovon. “We never recorded this (in previous years). Facilities are overstretched.”

Dead rats in jars of formaldehyde decorated the corridors of the small clinic. Inside the isolation ward, the temperature was stifling at above 40°C (104°F) degrees.

Kevin Ousman, who specialises in combating viral risks at the World Health Organization (WHO), spends his days reminding people of basic protection.

“Change your gloves!” Ousmane orders. “Throw away this water! Don’t put this bag on the floor.”

In front of the hospital, surgical gloves and syringes spill out of the trash bins onto the grass.

“Given the situation we’re living here, we are going right down to the basics,” Ousmane tells AFP as doctors come and go clad from head to toe in protective suits.

Family care

A striking sight is that of relatives trying to care for their loved ones. Many come wearing just flip-flops and a simple facemask when they visit a patient in the isolation ward.

“It’s a tradition in Africa for families to take care of their sick,” a WHO employee remarks. “But we have to put a stop to that, it’s much too risky.”

Wilson Oherein had heard only vaguely of Lassa fever before his wife contracted the disease, to die of it a few days ago.

Their three-year-old daughter was also contaminated by Lassa fever and she was being cared for in the isolation ward at Irrua.

Oherein usually spends his days at his daughter’s bedside and feeds her. He also takes her soiled garments and washes them in a bucket. But this afternoon, he is resting in a half-finished building behind the hospital, with other family members of patients.

He is lying, exhausted, on a mat on the floor. “I will be fine,” he tries to convince himself, his forehead beaded with sweat. “I’m just anxious for my daughter and the mourning of my wife. It knocks me down.”

© – AFP, 2018

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    Mute Sandra Corbett
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    May 8th 2016, 2:54 PM

    I’m from Cork. I’ve lived in Fort McMurray for almost 20 years. We got out safely on Tuesday and 2 of my kids who’d first been evacuated to the north got out on Wednesday. Fort McMurray has a large Irish community, many who had moved elsewhere in Alberta over the years. They’re the ones who’ve taken us into their homes and are helping us. People have been amazing with their generosity. We have no idea when we can go back and can only watch and wait.

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    May 8th 2016, 3:41 PM

    Wishing you a speedy return home, the Irish dispora in Alberta will be there to help you rebuild.

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    Mute Patrick J O'CONNOR
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    May 8th 2016, 5:31 PM

    @Sandra Corbett……..This is a huge tragedy and will be tough for all affected.But as you are finding out Albertans and Canadians care and will be there ’til this gets back to normal. I’m glad you are safely away from the danger. In case you or someone you know are unawares below is the FB help guide.
    —”An open-source Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Fort-McMurray-Evacuee-Open-Source-Help-Page-1542379816069211/ has been set up to help evacuees with information and resources. People have been using the page to assist evacuees with any items and shelter they might be able to offer. —”

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    Mute Notthatguy
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    May 8th 2016, 9:47 PM

    Make sure you have proof of address anywhere you go, offers are made to those affected, many stores, Walmarts and so on….

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    May 8th 2016, 1:02 PM

    We have little to be giving out about.

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    May 8th 2016, 1:18 PM

    God help them – horrible to loose everything.

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    Mute Padraig
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    May 8th 2016, 1:23 PM

    Has anyone asked DHR if he think that God is punishing Alberta.

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    Mute KM TON
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    May 8th 2016, 4:08 PM

    Go away Padraig

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 8th 2016, 2:36 PM

    I hope they get rain and soon.

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    Mute Patrick O Shea
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    May 8th 2016, 8:08 PM

    How are the gas fracking fields doing in the middle of this inferno?

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    Mute Philip O'Beachain
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    May 8th 2016, 8:42 PM

    Most are north of the town and looks likely the fire will miss them. However, most of them have shut down production for safety. This means that on top of the 80,000 evacuated many people who travel to the area for work now have a shortage of work until the foreseeable future.

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    Mute Sandra Corbett
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    May 9th 2016, 1:39 PM

    Mines around Fort Mac don’t use fracking method

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    Mute Eoin
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    May 8th 2016, 5:26 PM

    That’s what insurance is for

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    Mute Ronan McDermott
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    May 8th 2016, 9:29 PM

    That takes time you idiot. This is a very serious situation over here.

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    Mute Little Diddy No
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    May 9th 2016, 10:58 AM

    A tragedy for all involved – but the seriousness of these and many other wildfires is linked to climate change so we can expect these kinds of events to keep getting even worse all over the world sadly: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/06/opinions/sutter-canada-wildfire-climate/

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