Beyond the Shadows: Strengthening Nigeria's Health System in the Wake of Lassa Fever and Covid-19 Challenges

E. A. Tobin, O. I. Edeawe, S. Abah

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the L a s s a Feve r i s a n a c u t e v i r a l haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa
virus belonging to the Arenaviridea family. First described in 1969 in a village called Lassa in Borno State, 1 Nigeria, the disease is found in other countries in West Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia.
Approximately 300,000–500,000 cases occur annually with > 5000 deaths and Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2) led to an unprecedented disruption in global trade, economies and social systems and overwhelmed the health systems in developed and developing nations alike. In nations such as Nigeria, characterized by fragile healthcare infrastructure and inadequate preparedness levels within the health system, a notable consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic was the challenge
of maintaining healthcare services and mounting an efficient response to other prevalent infectious diseases with significant mortality rates, such as Lassa Fever.