The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has emphasized the need for improved diagnostics and vaccines to combat viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), which are prevalent in Nigeria.
According to Prof. Rosemary Audu, Deputy Director General of NIMR, not all fevers are malaria, and enhancing surveillance systems is crucial for effective control and management of VHFs.
VHFs are a group of illnesses caused by several distinct families of viruses, including arenaviruses, filoviruses, Bunyaviruses, and Flaviviruses. In Nigeria, VHFs of concern include Lassa fever, Ebola, Dengue fever, and Yellow fever.
While Yellow and Dengue fever are mosquito-borne, Lassa fever is endemic in parts of West Africa and responsible for 5,000 deaths annually.
The NIMR is emphasizing the need for improved diagnostics, vaccines, surveillance, and public awareness to combat VHFs.
Prof. Audu noted that the detection of dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and Lassa fever virus in some communities shows that infections are ongoing.
She warned healthcare workers to have a high suspicion of VHFs when patients present with fever, saying, “When people come with fever to the hospitals, it just means that our health workers also should have a high index of suspicion.”
The NIMR’s Director General, Prof. John Obafunwa, reiterated the importance of diagnosis, stating that it was necessary before treatment. He explained that early diagnosis would help to ensure accurate treatment because most VHFs presented with symptoms similar to malaria at the initial stage.
The NCDC also plays a crucial role in preventing and controlling VHFs in Nigeria.
The call for improved diagnostics and vaccines comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges of VHFs, which have significant public health implications.
