Emergence Phase Of Lassa Fever Over – NCDC, WHO Declares

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has declared the emergency phase of the Lassa fever outbreak, in Nigeria over.

This was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the Director-General, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, and the Officer-in-Charge, World Health Organisation, Nigeria, (WHO) Clement Peter.

Naija News understands that the disease which has ravaged the country for four and a half months of the country in 21 states, has led to 129 deaths.

The ’emergency phase’ of the 2019 Lassa fever outbreak was declared over after a joint epidemiological review by NCDC, WHO Nigeria, and other partners.

Due to an increased report of cases of the disease in some states across the country, NCDC earlier this year (January 22) declared a Lassa fever emergency in Nigeria.

The agency had activated a national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate response activities in the face of rising Lassa fever cases across the country. This was done by NCDC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

According to Mr Ihekweazu, the robust response given to the cases of Lassa fever has caused the disease to significantly declined in the past seven weeks and has now dropped below levels considered to be a national emergency.