By Alfred Kollie email: alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) have confirmed four new cases of Lassa fever in three counties in Liberia.
Two deaths recently occurred.
According to a statement released in Monrovia on Tuesday, cases of Lassa fever are on the increase in the Lassa belt of Bong, Nimba, and Grand Bassa Counties.
The four new confirmed cases have been reported, two (2) from Bong, Grand Bassa county one and Nimba county one since the last outbreak in May 2018.
‘’Blood specimen were collected and tested positive for Lassa fever on 4th-7thJune 2018, atthe National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL). The recent case from Nimba County was confirmed by the NPHRL on June 7, 2018’’ the release noted.
A total of 128 contacts, including 59 healthcare workers, have been line-listed and are being followed up closely by wealth workers in these counties.
A released said one case is currently undergoing treatment at Phebe Hospital in Gbarngba Bong County, while one has been discharged and two deaths reported in this recent outbreak in the country.
Since the beginning of January 2018, a total of 112 suspected cases have been reported across the country with Eighteen (18) cases been confirmed positive by RT-PCR (Nimba-7, Montserrado-3, Bong-4 Margibi-2, and Grand Bassa-2.
The case fatality rate among confirmed cases is 72.2% (13/18).
According to official the high death rate is alarming to NPHIL and has launched an in-depth investigation.
The release also discloses that although Lassa fever is not new to Liberia, it is a deadly viral disease that requires urgent attention.
The disease is spread by rodents or rats and through close contact with affected persons.
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health urged the public to take the following public health measures by Keep their environment clean, Cover the dishes to prevent rats pu-puing or pee-peeing on them , Cover food in tightly closed containers to prevent rats from playing in food or drinking water, do not eat rats because you can get the sickness by coming in contact with their blood , pee-pee or pu-pu, not to dry food in open places where rats can reach, to avoid body contact with affected persons and endemic zone and visit a health facility immediately when you feel sick.
Meanwhile, NPHIL, MOH and partners are appealing to the general public to take the necessary preventive measure and kindly report cases of fever to the nearest health facility.
‘’We continue to improve our rapid response at county, district and community levels through the County Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) and to provide technical, financial and logistical support to the outbreaks,’’ he release quotes the Deputy Director General for Technical services Dr. Mosoka P. Fallah.
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) was created as a result of the unprecedented Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa that claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people and infected more than 28,000.
The Ebola epidemic highlighted the need for the establishment of a public health institute in Liberia and in December 2016 the Bill to launch NPHIL passed through the Liberian legislature marking a critical milestone in its post-Ebola journey.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, NPHIL’s mission is to prevent and control public health threats by promoting healthy outcomes while serving as a source of knowledge and expertise.
As the center of excellence for better health outcomes for Liberians through a strong health system, this Institute aims to strengthen existing infection prevention and control efforts, laboratories, surveillance, infectious disease control, public health capacity building, response to outbreaks, and monitor diseases with epidemic potential.