Yellow, Lassa fever test kits will reduce disease burden in Nigeria – Mamora

As part of efforts to reduce the disease burden and misdiagnosis of infectious diseases in Nigeria, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, has launched test kits for Lassa fever and Yellow fever.

He also inaugurated a food safety laboratory, a medical e-library, an administrative complex and a toxicology laboratory for easy detection of heavy metals and lead.

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A total of 2787 confirmed cases and 516 deaths were reported in Nigeria on Lassa fever alone between December 2016 and September 2020.

The kits, produced by the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), are expected to improve the diagnosis of the two infectious diseases, which have been in Nigeria for many years.

The molecular virologist, who worked on the kits, Dr Joseph Shaibu, revealed that with the device, test results would be ready within 75 minutes.

Mamora said early diagnosis of the diseases would prevent deaths, as well as improve health indices in the country.

“Yellow fever and Lassa fever are two health concerns in Nigeria with many casualties recorded over the years. Most times, the symptoms are mistaken for malaria and typhoid due to poor diagnosis. The test kits researched and produced in Nigeria will go a long way to improve healthcare delivery in the country,” the minister said.