SPATIOTEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF LASSA FEVER CASES IN RIVERS STATE: IMPLICATIONS AND PREPAREDNESS
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Abstract
Background: Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease found in Mastomys natalensis rodents and transmitted to humans and it causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever and its complications in humans. It poses a significant public health challenge due to its high fatality rate and potential for outbreaks. The objective of this study is to assess and analyze the spatial distribution of Lassa fever confirmed cases in Rivers State from 2015-2022.
Methods: The study utilized secondary data. A total of 73 cases of Lassa fever were extracted from records from the Department of Public Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health, showing the cases of Lassa fever in different years starting from 2015 to 2022 and at different locations. A QGIS v3.83 was used to create a choropleth on the distribution of Lassa fever cases. The data were also analyzed using the SPSS at a 5% alpha level and were evaluated using the Chi-squared test for categorical variables and the t-test for continuous variables.
Results: Male suspected cases were more for suspected Lassa fever virus (37) and (36) for female counterparts, the female accounted for a higher proportion of confirmed cases of Lassa fever (7) as compared to the male confirmed cases (6). The average age of the confirmed cases was ≥ 40 years. The prevalence of the Lassa fever virus in Rivers State from 2015-2022 was 17.8%. The spatiotemporal analysis places Obio/Akpor as a high-risk area for Lassa fever.
Conclusion: The study associated the incidence of the Lassa fever virus with poor environmental management, indiscriminate disposal of refuse dumps, poor quality housing, and rural and urban migration. Therefore, there is a need for the government to activate strict environmental sanitation, effective risk communication, and set up a surveillance team.
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