Factors associated with a confirmed Lassa fever outbreak in Eguare community of Esan West, Edo State, Nigeria: January-March, 2019

Background: Lassa fever disease is endemic in Edo State, Nigeria. A national upsurge in Lassa fever cases and death occurred in January 2019, with Eguare community in Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State having an unusual increase in number of reported cases. We investigated the outbreak to determine factors associated with being a confirmed Lassa fever case and the health seeking behaviour of the community members. Methods: We conducted an unmatched 1:4 case control study. We defined a confirmed case-patient as any person from Eguare community with febrile illness and PCR positive for Lassa fever between January and March, 2019; and control as anyone from Eguare community without febrile illness within the same period. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on exposures from both cases and controls. Univariate and bivariate analysis was done and confidence level set at 95%. Results: A total of 10 case-patients and 40 controls were recruited. The mean age of case-patients was 45.8years ± 15.2 and controls 35.6years ± 14.6. Forty percent of case-patients and 52.5% of controls were females. Having contact with suspected case-patients and having dumpsites close to homes (p<0.01) were associated with Lassa fever infection among case-patient. Eighty-six percent of the respondents would report at health facility if presented with febrile illness. Conclusion: Avoiding contact with a suspected Lassa fever case-patients and improved waste management system may prevent and interrupt the spread of Lassa fever virus.