UNASSIGNED: The Emergency operational centre (EOC) model was used for the outbreak coordination. Cases and deaths were identified through the routine surveillance system. Blood specimens collected from suspected cases were sent for confirmation at the Virology Centre, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA). Active case search was instituted, and identified contacts of confirmed cases were followed up for the maximum incubation period of the disease. Other public health responses included infection prevention and control, communication and advocacy as well as case management. Data collected were analysed using the Epi info statistical software package.
UNASSIGNED: We identified 89 suspected Lassa Fever (LF) cases out of which 61 were confirmed. The mean age was 35±16.2 and the age group mostly affected was 30-39 years. More than half (59.7%) of the confirmed cases were females. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 26.2% among the laboratory confirmed cases. Five of the deaths occurred among health care workers. Out of 325 contacts of the confirmed cases, 304(99.7%) completed the follow-up and only 1(0.3%) of them developed symptoms consistent with LF and was confirmed by the laboratory.
UNASSIGNED: The high CFR in those presenting late to the hospital underscores the need for intensive public enlightenment that encourages early presentation to hospital. Majority of the confirmed cases were primary cases, hence efforts should be intensified in breaking the chain of transmission in the animal-man interphase. Death of healthcare workers involved in management of Lassa fever raises the importance of providing life insurance for concerned healthcare workers.
■紧急行动中心(EOC)模型用于疫情协调。通过常规监测系统确定病例和死亡。从疑似病例中收集的血液样本被送往病毒学中心确认,AlexEkwueme联邦大学教学医院,阿巴卡利基(AEFUTHA)。开始了积极的病例搜索,并对确诊病例的确定接触者进行了随访,以确保疾病的最大潜伏期。其他公共卫生对策包括感染预防和控制,沟通和宣传以及案例管理。使用Epiinfo统计软件包分析收集的数据。
■我们确定了89例疑似拉沙热(LF)病例,其中61例得到确认。平均年龄为35±16.2,受影响最大的年龄组为30-39岁。超过一半(59.7%)的确诊病例为女性。实验室确诊病例的病死率(CFR)为26.2%。其中五人死亡发生在医护人员中。在确诊病例的325名接触者中,304(99.7%)完成了随访,其中只有1(0.3%)出现了与LF一致的症状,并得到了实验室的确认。
■那些迟到医院的人的高CFR强调了对鼓励早期到医院就诊的密集公共启蒙的必要性。大部分确诊病例为原发病例,因此,应该加大力度打破动物-人间期的传播链。参与拉沙热管理的医护人员的死亡提高了为相关医护人员提供人寿保险的重要性。