Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
West Afr J Med. 2023 Jul 28;40(7):684-688.
Lassa fever is an acute hemorrhagic viral disease caused by the Lassa virus. The Lassa virus belongs to the Arenaviridae family of RNA viruses. On 05/04/2016; two cases of Lassa fever were reported from Katsina State with the date of presentation of the first case on 23/03/2016 and 27/03/ 2016 for the second case. We investigated the outbreak to identify the agent and the source and propose recommendations as well as to assess the practice of infection, prevention and control (IPC).
We used descriptive study to describe contact tracing and facility assessment. We described the outbreak by time, place, and person. We defined a case using established guidelines and line-listed the contacts. We conducted IPC facility check in the state. Blood specimens were collected for Lassa fever detection. Microsoft Excel and Epi-info version 7.1.6 were used for data analysis.
The index case of Lassa fever in Katsina State was seen on 23/03/2016 with a travel history from Kaduna State. The second case had contact with a positive Lassa fever case from Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A total of 82 contacts were line listed (9 developed Lassa fever). The case fatality rate was 27.3%. IPC checklist revealed 37.5% of the health facilities lacked personal protective equipment and safety boxes, 25% lacked isolation wards, and none had chlorine solution. Overall, 61% of personnel had poor knowledge of Lassa fever, 31% had fair knowledge and 8% had good knowledge.
A multiple-source epidemic with sources of primary infection from outside Katsina state was noted. Most of the health facilities assessed lack basic IPC materials and knowledge on Lassa fever which should be addressed.
拉沙热是一种由拉沙病毒引起的急性出血性病毒性疾病。拉沙病毒属于 RNA 病毒的沙粒病毒科。2016 年 5 月 4 日，卡齐纳州报告了两例拉沙热病例，第一例的发病日期为 2016 年 3 月 23 日，第二例为 3 月 27 日。我们对疫情进行了调查，以确定病原体和来源，并提出建议，评估感染、预防和控制（IPC）的实践情况。
我们使用描述性研究来描述接触者追踪和设施评估。我们按时间、地点和人员描述疫情。我们使用既定指南定义病例，并列出接触者。我们在州内进行了 IPC 设施检查。采集血液标本进行拉沙热检测。使用 Microsoft Excel 和 Epi-info 版本 7.1.6 进行数据分析。
卡齐纳州的拉沙热首例病例于 2016 年 3 月 23 日出现，有从卡杜纳州旅行的病史。第二例与来自联邦首都直辖区（FCT）瓜瓜瓦拉的阳性拉沙热病例有接触。共列出了 82 名接触者（9 人患有拉沙热）。病死率为 27.3%。IPC 检查表显示，37.5%的卫生机构缺乏个人防护设备和安全箱，25%缺乏隔离病房，没有一家有氯溶液。总的来说，61%的人员对拉沙热知识了解不足，31%的人员了解一般，8%的人员了解较好。
注意到这是一起多源流行疫情，主要感染源来自卡齐纳州以外。评估的大多数卫生机构缺乏基本的 IPC 材料和拉沙热知识，这需要加以解决。
