According to them, the simultaneously increasing cases of COVID-19 and Lassa fever infections across Nigeria would be catastrophic unless infection prevention and control measures towards both outbreaks are given similar attention. They advised that urgent public health enlightenment campaigns to stem wild misconceptions regarding COVID-19 and Lassa fever across Nigeria are needed. According to them, “Like with COVID-19, Nigeria has been battling with Lassa fever (LF), a more severe, zoonotic and viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus. Currently, Nigeria has recorded 4,622 suspected cases of Lassa fever with 991 confirmed cases and 191 deaths as of May 8, 2020. “Since the management of COVID-19 and Lassa fever cases in Nigeria demands shared clinical and laboratory facilities, confronting COVID-19 and Lassa fever simultaneously will add severe diagnostic difficulties to the poor and inadequate facilities available.

Source: Nigerian Tribune May 28, 2020 04:07 UTC