Health
BREAKING: Lassa fever: UK visitor tests positive as death toll hits 98 in 2 months

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed a Lassa fever case with a travel history to the United Kingdom.
The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, in a public advisory on Monday, said the agency was notified on 5th of March of a confirmed case of Lassa fever by the Ondo State Ministry of Health, in a 31-year-old physician managed at a private health facility in Ondo State after returning from a trip abroad (UK).
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.
Dr Idris said the patient departed Nigeria on February 19 and returned February 27, adding that samples were taken late on Friday, February 28 on a suspicion of Lassa fever, but the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, March 1.
He said the laboratory investigation returned a result that was Lassa Fever positive on PCR on Tuesday March 4, adding that “The patient was said to have visited his fiancée in Edo State, as well as family and friends before travelling. “
The NCDC DG said to enhance state and international level coordination of all control and management efforts, some steps had been taken.
“Ondo State Ministry of Health has bolstered control and management efforts through contact tracing and line listing of contacts of the confirmed case.
“All necessary in-country structures have been mobilized to ensure all possible contacts are traced and monitored. Communicated to the Port Health Services to support contact tracing and line listing of contacts and bolster surveillance efforts at the point of entries and exits (information include patient’s biodata, flight details etc. shared).
“Information shared with all relevant authorities in line with the International Health Regulations (2005), and contact tracing efforts also on-going in the UK,” he stated.
The NCDC boss explained that a total of 2728 Lassa fever suspected cases; 535 confirmed cases and 98 deaths have been recorded across 14 states in Nigeria (Case Fatality Rate 18.3%) since the beginning of this year.
He said five states account for 91% of confirmed cases: Ondo: 31%, Bauchi: 24%, Edo: 17%, Taraba: 16% and Ebonyi: 3%.
He said, “Ten (10) LGAs make up 68% of confirmed cases, namely Owo, Akure South, Etsako West, Kirfi, Akoko South West, Bali, Esan North East, Bauchi, Toro and Jalingo. “
He said while NCDC leads the prevention, preparedness, and response to public health emergencies, state governments are also critical in implementing their outbreak response plans tailored to their specific geographical needs.
“And we will continue to support them. However, this responsibility, being a collective one, members of the public also have a role to play,” he said.
He further advised members of the public to
always keep their environment clean, especially their homes, markets, dump sites to reduce breeding grounds for rats
He said, “Block all holes in your house to prevent the entry of rats and other rodents.
“Cover your dustbins and dispose of refuse or waste properly. Communities should set up dump sites far from their homes to reduce the chances of the entry of rodents into their homes.
“Safely store food items such as rice, garri, beans, corn/maize, etc., in tightly sealed or well-covered containers. And avoid open drying of food stuff. Properly process or prepare rats (bushmeat) before consumption. Avoid drying food stuff outside on the ground or roadside, where it is at risk of contamination.
“Discourage bush burning and Deforestation as these can destroy the homes and food sources of rodents, driving them to migrate from the bushes to human residences to find food.
“Eliminate rats in homes and communities by setting rat traps and other appropriate and safe means. Practice good personal and hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap under running water or using hand sanitizers when necessary.”
While advising people to avoid overcrowded living areas as overcrowding leads to poor sanitation, he said they should also avoid self-medication to ensure proper diagnosis and early treatment.
“Visit the nearest health facility if you notice any of the signs and symptoms associated with Lassa fever mentioned earlier or call the State Ministry of Health hotline and 6232 (NCDC),” he added.
Health
ESUT inducts 70 graduates into nursing profession
The induction ceremony was conducted by the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Alhaji Alhassan Ndagi, formally ushering the graduates into the noble healthcare profession.

The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), yesterday, inducted 70 pioneer graduates of its Department of Nursing Sciences into the nursing profession.
The induction ceremony was conducted by the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Alhaji Alhassan Ndagi, formally ushering the graduates into the noble healthcare profession.
This was even as the elated inductees, who began their academic journey in 2018 without accreditation for the programme, heaped praises on the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for the decisive action and strategic intervention, acknowledging that without the governor’s timely support and provision of the facilities necessary for accreditation, their dreams might have ended in frustration.
The Chairman of the occasion and Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Yomi Jaye, described the event as a celebration of vision, resilience, and political will.
He recounted how the students had been plunged into despair following years of delay due to the lack of accreditation until Mbah assumed office and swiftly ensured the programme met the standards required by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the NMCN.
He said: “At the beginning of this administration, we were saddled with the task of strengthening our nursing and medical education.
We carried out a baseline assessment of all the institutions and discovered there was no accreditation for 19 years. We approached the NUC and the Nursing Council.
The governor backed us with all the necessary resources, and we worked alongside the university day and night. They didn’t just accredit them, they also indexed the backlog.”
Health
Six million donkeys slaughtered yearly for Chinese medicine – Report
It is driven by an increase in China’s production of ejiao – a product marketed as a health supplement that uses collagen from donkey skins – which is a $6.8-billion industry, according to China-based research firm Qianzhan.

(AFP): Almost six million donkeys are slaughtered annually for Chinese medicine, with severe knock-on effects for African villagers who rely on the animals, a UK-based charity said on Thursday.
It is driven by an increase in China’s production of ejiao – a product marketed as a health supplement that uses collagen from donkey skins – which is a $6.8-billion industry, according to China-based research firm Qianzhan.
China, whose donkey population has plummeted from 11 million in 1992 to 1.5 million in 2023, has turned to Africa to meet its demand.
With donkey populations falling, the African Union issued a 15-year moratorium on donkey slaughter last year.
UK-based charity The Donkey Sanctuary said, “the ejiao industry drives a massive global trade in donkey skins, much of it illegal”.
It said around 5.9 million donkeys were killed worldwide last year.
The ejiao trade is expected to require at least 6.8 million donkey skins by 2027. The rising value of donkeys means they have increasingly become targets for criminals.
Business
Lagos State Enforcement Team Busts Illegal Abattoir in Agege, Arrests Operators

The Lagos State enforcement squad of the MOE&WR led by KAI operatives on Wednesday burst an illegal abbatoir which was being operated at a private residence at Succo road directly opposite the RRS Barracks and LASTMA Yard in Oko Oba, Agege, arresting some of those found slaughtering animals for public consumption in the location.
The operation followed a tip-off from a whistle blower.

“The enforcement team said, the contaminated meat from cows and goats have been confiscated to prevent it from entering the food chain”.
“This action of the operators of the abbatoir is in defiance of the closure of the Oko Oba Abbatoir and poses great health dangers and environmental risks to the law abiding residents of the area”.
“We need to make it clear that such disregard for public health and sanitation will not be tolerated in Lagos State” .
“Every Government’s primary responsibility is the protection of lives and properties and we will not shirk that responsbbility.”
“We will continue to ensure that only safe and approved public facilities are allowed to operate within our communities.”the statement reads.
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