RESUMO
Lassa fever cases have increased in Nigeria since 2016 with the highest number, 633 cases, reported in 2018. From 1 January to 28 April 2019, 554 laboratory-confirmed cases including 124 deaths were reported in 21 states in Nigeria. A public health emergency was declared on 22 January by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. We describe the various outbreak responses that have been implemented, including establishment of emergency thresholds and guidelines for case management.
Assuntos
Surtos de Doenças/prevenção & controle , Febre Lassa/prevenção & controle , Surtos de Doenças/estatística & dados numéricos , Emergências/epidemiologia , Guias como Assunto , Pessoal de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Febre Lassa/epidemiologia , Febre Lassa/mortalidade , Vírus Lassa , Nigéria/epidemiologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
We reviewed data pertaining to the massive wave of Lassa fever cases that occurred in Nigeria in 2018. No new virus strains were detected, but in 2018, the outbreak response was intensified, additional diagnostic support was available, and surveillance sensitivity increased. These factors probably contributed to the high case count.
