Resources

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): Standard operating procedures for Lassa fever case management

This resource describes the standard operating procedures for Lassa fever case management as outlined by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Read more

Sensorineural hearing loss in Lassa fever: Two case reports

This resource reports on two female patients aged 19 and 43 years old with clinical features suggestive of Lassa fever and confirmed by immunoserological/Lassa-virus-specific reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Both patients developed severe sensorineural hearing loss at acute phases of the infections.

Read more

Epidemic preparedness and management: A guide on Lassa fever outbreak preparedness plan

This resource discusses the principles of epidemic management using an emergency operating center model, reviews the epidemiology of Lassa fever in Nigeria, and provides guidance on what is expected to be done in preparing for an epidemic of the disease at health facilities and local and state government levels in line with the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy.

Read more

Knowledge and application of infectious diseases control measures among primary care workers in Nigeria: The Lassa fever example

This resource investigates the knowledge and practice of Lassa fever control among primary care health workers. The study was a cross-sectional survey of health workers in 34 primary care centres in Esan West and Esan Central Local Government Areas.

Read more

Review of cases of nosocomial Lassa fever in Nigeria: The high price of poor medical practice

This resource reviewed medical records in hospitals and clinics in rural and urban areas of Imo State, Nigeria, and reports on its investigation into two hospital outbreaks. In this study, patients with presumed and laboratory confirmed Lassa fever were identified and contracts traced. Hospital staff, patients, and local residents were questioned, records were carefully reviewed, and serum samples were taken. Serum samples were assayed for antibody specific to Lassa virus, and isolates of Lassa virus were obtained.

Read more

Lassa fever outbreak in Southwestern Nigeria: The Ekiti state response amidst economic recession

This article describes part of the response to an outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria in 2016.  The paper underlines the importance of Intersectoral collaboration and political will in response to outbreaks at the provincial or state, but also records challenges to control efforts including inadequate local laboratory capacity and fear among health workers, panic response among the general populace as well as deficient emergency preparedness.

Read more

Perceptions of burden of caregiving by informal caregivers of cancer patients attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

Though not about Lassa fever specifically, this study shows the burden experienced by informal caregivers of cancer patients in Nigeria. Most caregivers experienced this burden as moderate or severe.

Read more

Patients’ and healthcare providers’ perceptions and practices regarding hypertension, pharmacy-based care, and mHealth in Lagos, Nigeria

Although not focused on Lassa Fever, a recent publication on hypertension in Nigeria, provides a comprehensive review of contemporary health seeking behaviour in the country, underlining the important role that small-scale local pharmaceutical providers provide as the front line of medical care.  This study also describes what respondents call a ‘Nigerian Factor’; a reluctance to seek health care until very sick.

Read more