In Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State in Nigeria, MSF helps the authorities in their effort to fight Lassa fever. Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus, which is spread by rats. The disease is endemic in this part of Nigeria, with seasonal outbreaks typically peaking in the first few months of the year. In 2018, 171 people out of 633 cases with lab-confirmation of Lassa fever died in Nigeria, but the disease is thought be severely underdiagnosed. Lassa fever is hard to diagnose clinically, there are few laboratories able to test for it, and effective treatment options are limited.



The first short-term objective of the project is to reduce the risk and number of Lassa fever infections in the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki, among staff, non-Lassa patients and visitors, and in the general community of the State. A second, objective is to improve diagnosis and management of the disease through operational research. Current MSF activities support the federal and state authorities with activities focused on infection prevention and control and quality care, including health promotion and awareness raising, early case detection, rapid isolation of suspects and confirmed cases, supportive treatment, water and sanitation management, and safe burials. MSF has constructed two buildings for the temporary isolation of suspect cases, and has trained numerous staff.



In the long run the project aims to use increased knowledge and understanding of Lassa fever management to catalyse policy change and help mobilize increased funding for Lassa fever in Nigeria, so that the free care MSF offers patients in Ebonyi can become standard across the country.