The National Agency For the Control of Aids (NACA) says no fewer than 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occur each year in Nigeria.The Director-General, NACA, Mrs Temitope Ilori stated this on Thursday in Abeokuta during an advocacy visit focused on achieving an AIDS-Free Generation and building a sustainable HIV response in Ogun.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Government, FG, on Tuesday said as of October 13th, Nigeria has recorded 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases, and 174 deaths of Lassa Fever, have been reported across 28 states and 129 Local Government Areas, LGAs.

Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Dr.

He said considering a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases, it is imperative to prevent, detect, and respond to cases of Lassa fever across the country.

According to the DG, “We have continued to see a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases. This rise is due, in part, to improved surveillance, better community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change, and other harmful human activities. In 2022, Nigeria reported 1,067 confirmed cases across 27 states and 112 LGAs. In 2023, 28 states and 114 LGAs reported confirmed cases, with 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths.

“As of October 13, 2024, 8,569 suspected cases, 1,035 confirmed cases, and 174 deaths have been reported across 28 states and 129 LGAs.

“Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) caused by the Lassa virus. The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat). Other rodents can also act as carriers of the virus.

“The disease is also associated with significant loss of livelihood in the communities it ravages. Heads of households are unable to work when exposed to Lassa fever and when other household members are infected, the cost of care and treatment of the disease which is often significant strains existing household income pushing households toward poverty in a swift turn of events.

“Lassa fever outbreaks are highly virulent and the loss of human lives resulting from disease are not just statistics but represent the death of beloved family members, spouses, parents. Healthcare workers are also not excluded as there is a high chance of infection if proper infection prevention and control measures are not observed and experienced healthcare workers may die further straining the country’s already insufficient human resources for health.
While we continue to intensify efforts using an all-of-society approach, the public is hereby advised to note that the virus spreads through:
Direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.

“Contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
Consuming food or water contaminated with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.
Person-to-person transmission can also occur through direct contact with blood, urine, faeces, vomitus, and other body fluids of an infected person”.

NCDC boss, said the symptoms for Lassa Fever, is like other common illnesses accompanied by a fever, such as malaria. Other symptoms include headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, sore throat, and, in severe cases, bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings. The time between infection and the appearance of symptoms of the disease is 3 to 21 days. Early diagnosis and treatment of the diseases greatly increase the chances of patient survival.

People most at risk for Lassa fever are:
People of all age groups who come in contact with the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats.

He therefore advised the populace to ensure they always keep your environment clean, block all holes in your house to prevent the entry of rats and other rodents, cover your dustbins and dispose of refuse properly and communities should set up dump sites far from their homes to reduce the chances of the entry of rodents into their homes.

Also store food items such as rice, garri, beans, corn/maize, etc., in tightly sealed or well-covered containers, avoid drying food stuff outside on the ground or roadside, where it is at risk of contamination and eliminate rats in homes and communities by setting rat traps and other appropriate and safe means.

The Dr. Jide Idris, also spoke on prevention of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), said Nigeria recorded 4,915 suspected and 380 confirmed cases with 361 deaths across 174 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 24 States including the Federal Capital Territory.

However, noted that, weather conditions like the dry season that comes with dust, winds, cold nights, and frequent upper respiratory tract infections increase the risk of infection, especially with crowding and poor ventilation.

He said, “The highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the “Meningitis Belt” which includes all 19 states in the Northern region, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some southern states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun).

“In 2023/2024, Nigeria recorded 4915 suspected and 380 confirmed cases with 361 deaths across 174 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 24 States including the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 2, 281, 750 doses of Men5CV- ACWYX in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe covering 134 wards in the 13 LGAs. The campaign targeted individuals aged 1-29years, comprising 70% of the population.

He said CSM occurs when there is an acute inflammation of the covering of the brain and the spinal cord. This inflammation can be caused by infection with any of the following organisms – bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. Injuries and certain drugs can also cause such inflammation.

“CSM is an epidemic-prone disease with cases reported all year round in Nigeria. However, weather conditions like the dry season that comes with dust, winds, cold nights, and frequent upper respiratory tract infections increase the risk of infection, especially with crowding and poor ventilation. The highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the “Meningitis Belt” which includes all 19 states in the Northern region, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some southern states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun)”, he stressed.

He lamented that, despite the progress in surveillance, diagnostic capacity, and vaccination over the last few years, CSM remains a priority disease and ever-present public health threat in Nigeria with annual outbreaks in high-burden states that present a challenge for people, health systems, economies, and communities.

He therefore said the disease spreads through,
direct person-to-person contact, including droplets from the nose and throat of infected persons and close and prolonged contact with an infected individual.

According to him, the symptoms for the disease include, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, photophobia (pain on looking at bright lights), neck stiffness, and altered conscious levels. It may be more difficult to observe these signs in younger children, but irritability, poor feeding, and inactivity are common.

He therefore advised that the citizens should ensure they receive the appropriate vaccination required to protect against meningitis, avoid close and prolonged contact with a confirmed case of CSM including relatives, avoid overcrowding on households, schools dormitories, IDPs, prisons other communal settings and practice proper respiratory hygiene when coughing or sneezing.

Stop indoor air pollution, such as indoor cooking over open flames, practice good personal and hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap under running water or using hand sanitisers when necessary, always keep your environment clean and visit the nearest health facility immediately if you notice any of the signs and symptoms associated with CSM.

Nigeria and seven other African countries have begun a project to check HIV in the continent.

The project is tagged, Bringing Innovation to cLinical and Laboratory research to end HIV In Africa through New vaccine Technology (BRILLIANT) for HIV vaccine research and development.

Prof Alash’le Abimiku, Executive Director, International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology (IHVN), disclosed this at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

The theme of the briefing was, “HIV Vaccine, Innovation, Science, and Technology Acceleration in Africa (HIV-VISTA) study.

Abimiku said that the countries involved were Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Mozambique.

She said that the objective of the consortium is to evaluate HIV vaccine candidates emanating from the continent.

She added that the initiative was to harness and catalyse African scientists to contribute to an effective HIV vaccine.

“Through these efforts, African institutions will be encouraged to become more autonomous, generate domestic resource support, and form partnerships with the private sector.

“It will possibly create a more sustainable system for HIV vaccine research and development, which is progressively and inordinately dependent on the U.S government,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the partnership will acknowledge the potential of great innovation and science from Africa to solve global health challenges especially those that disproportionally devastate the continent.

Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), said that HIV still persisted in spite of efforts at controlling it, hence the need for new tools for prevention.

“The agency has continued to provide preventive measures, but an effective vaccine is crucial to our efforts.

“The BRILLIANT study offers hope for a vaccine tailored to the needs of our population, and Nigeria’s involvement in this global initiative is critical.

“Our participation supports both local and international efforts to end AIDS and brings us closer to a vaccine that could save countless lives across Africa and beyond,” she said.

She said that the BRILLIANT study exemplified the strength of global collaboration and scientific progress.

“Together, we can achieve our shared goal of eradicating HIV worldwide, and Nigeria is honoured to play a vital role in this endeavor,” she said.

Dr Ezekiel James, the Deputy Director of the office of HIV/TB from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAIDS), said that the study offered opportunity for stakeholders to combine efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control.

Similarly, Dr Leo Zekeng, UNAIDS Country Director, stressed the need to engage the community to create awareness of HIV vaccines and similar research that continues to break HIV transmission rates.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had, on Tuesday, named HIV, malaria, Tuberculosis, and 14 other pathogens as top priorities for new vaccine development.

Also, according to UNAIDS, there are an estimated 39.9 million people living with HIV across the globe in 2023, with an estimated 1.3 million new infections.

Africa has about 25.9 million (65 per cent) of the global burden with Nigeria, contributing about 1.9 million, making it the fourth largest HIV burden country globally.

The USAIDS awarded more than 45 million dollars to the BRILLIANT consortium through a competitive process to implement a cooperative agreement under the BRILLIANT project. (NAN)